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

Mauchline, 63, who worked in sales, 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 was a tennis player and when Covid kicked in the pickleball players came down to the tennis court because at that time you could only play outside,” said Aberdeen's Mauchline, who founded Pickleball Aberdeen.

“I’m looking at it and I’m going ‘wow, that’s a really good game,’ and as I’ve got older, I’ve found it difficult to serve in tennis.

“I thought this was the next sport, from tennis, that I could play, so now I play this all the time and the tennis has kind of gone bye-bye.

“This has doubled in size from when I first came here – I think there was about 800, then they doubled that and now it’s at almost 2,000.”

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 Open is huge, you’ve got professionals coming in from America who want to be here, you’ve got 40 courts laid down, so applause to Karen Mitchell, and Elaine Shallcross as well, for organising this,” added Mauchline.

“It’s given me a chance to face players I wouldn’t normally play and that’s what you need.

“You need different competition, different styles, and I’ve met people from Wales, people from Spain, it’s growing all over the place.”

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