Sarah Reading starred in an historic week for pickleball at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Foodbank volunteer Reading, 55, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

“I went over to the States last year to visit my elderly aunt and uncle and took a walk with one of my cousins, and because I play tennis we were walking through a park, saw a tennis court and went ‘what on earth are they playing?’” said Droitwich's Reading.

“They said pickleball, so that was in October and it took me until March this year to find a club.

“I absolutely love the sport, I can’t get enough of it.”

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“The atmosphere is fantastic, the sportsmanship’s fantastic and if I could play pickleball 24/7, I would,” added Reading.

“I came in on Saturday and I played doubles for the first time with a girl called Sara [Rawlinson] and we got through to the quarter-finals.

“We then lost but we were so pleased to first take part and then get as far as we did.

“I then played with Sara’s husband [Giles Rawlinson] today and again we got through to the quarter-finals, so we were absolutely over the moon.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org