Six days. More than 60 courts. Some of the best players in Europe and North America. And somewhere around 150 combined hours behind the microphone.

Chris Beaumont and Nick Hobbis are back from the NEC for the definitive review of the 2026 English Open.

They revisit the performances that shaped the week, from Ignasi De Rueda singles breakthrough and the brilliance of Roos van Reek to Jack Munro and Richard Livornese's American statement, Marcello Jardim's senior dominance and the players who exceeded expectations without necessarily leaving Birmingham with gold.

But this is about more than results.

Chris and Nick discuss what it felt like inside the biggest indoor pickleball tournament yet staged, the volunteers who made it possible, the success of the Unity Cup and the community stories happening away from the championship courts.

They also examine where the English Open needs to go next. Should professional players still be playing large round-robin groups? Does the pro division need an entry threshold? What did Stupa's video review and match data add to the broadcast? How should reviews be managed? And after the huge leap from Telford to the NEC, what does Pickleball England do for an encore?

Plus Jake Bower's tactical intelligence, the extraordinary depth of the men's singles field, the gap between Europe and America, the rise of De Rueda, the relentless consistency of Van Reek, some outrageous ATPs and Ernies, and why the grassroots game must never become separated from the professional spectacle being built above it.

The English Open grew up in Birmingham.

Now comes the interesting part.

What does it take to build a professional pickleball league when the culture around the sport is still being created?

World Pickleball Podcast sits down with National Pickleball League CEO Ron Shell for a wide-ranging conversation about the growth of the NPL in Australia, the arrival of New Zealand, and why building a successful league involves far more than putting good players on a court.

Shell explains why he sees the NPL as a marketing vehicle for pickleball itself, why attracting people from outside the existing pickleball community matters, and how the league is trying to create venues, teams and events that people genuinely want to belong to.

The conversation explores the emergence of real rivalries and player personalities, the role companies and communities can play in growing the sport, and why professional pickleball still has work to do before discovering the version of itself that truly works as a broadcast product.

There is also a bigger question running through the episode: should emerging pickleball markets simply copy what has happened in the United States, or can countries such as Australia build something with its own identity?

Ron Shell joins World Pickleball Podcast to talk culture, competition, community and the unfinished business of figuring out exactly what professional pickleball can become.

The countdown is on.

With less than a week until the 2026 English Open begins at Birmingham's NEC, Chris Beaumont is joined by commentator Nick Hobbis to preview the biggest pickleball tournament outside the United States.

Across more than an hour of analysis, they break down the biggest contenders, the international stars, the medal favourites and the storylines that could define one of the world's premier pickleball events.

Among the topics discussed:

🏆 Who can stop Marcelo Jardim in the senior divisions?

🏆 Will Lee Whitwell complete another dominant week?

🏆 Why the Open divisions are deeper than ever.

🏆 Megan Fudge returns to defend her titles.

🏆 The players ready to announce themselves on the international stage.

🏆 Why moving to Birmingham's NEC could transform the English Open.

🏆 Behind the scenes of commentating one of Europe's biggest pickleball events.

Whether you're playing, spectating or watching from home, this is your complete guide to the 2026 English Open.

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