Inside the 2026 APTA Nationals — Paddle’s Ultimate Weekend

What Is It Like Playing in the APTA Nationals?

The 2026 APTA Nationals marked the 8th or 9th Nationals I’ve competed in during my career. My first came when I was just 19 years old in Chicago, Illinois. I remember walking into that event feeling both excited and intimidated. Nationals always had a certain aura to it — the best players in the country, the biggest crowds, and the sense that you were stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage.

Since that first experience, the tournament has evolved tremendously — both from a competitive standpoint and from an operational perspective.

Let’s take a deeper dive.

Operationally

The APTA Nationals are truly a different animal compared to any other event on the calendar.

Most large tournaments throughout the year — Grand Prix events — feature prize money and attract six or seven of the top teams in the country. With NRT points and prize money on the line, the level of competition is fierce and the stakes are high.

But Nationals has always been about something bigger than rankings or prize checks.

It’s the one event that brings the entire paddle community together — players, fans, clubs, and supporters — all in one place to celebrate the sport.

Over the years, the expectations around the event have grown significantly. Fans want an experience. Players want an atmosphere. And organizers are tasked with creating something that feels worthy of the sport’s biggest weekend.

This year at the 2026 APTA Nationals hosted at Canoe Brook Country Club, our committee focused on exactly that.

We wanted Nationals to feel like an event — not just a tournament.

Two stadium courts have become the new norm at Nationals, and we leaned fully into that concept. Each day we transformed two courts into full stadium environments, complete with packed bleachers and dedicated VIP seating. The energy around those courts was incredible — fans stacked shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning over the rails, reacting to every big point.

We also worked hard to create a festival-like atmosphere around the courts. We brought in food trucks, had beer available for spectators, and created an environment where fans could stay all day, move between matches, and truly be part of the experience.

The response was unbelievable.

Over the course of the three-day event, more than 4,000 spectators came through the gates. The stands were packed, the buzz around the grounds was constant, and every big match felt like it had a playoff-level crowd behind it.

It’s that kind of environment that elevates the sport and shows just how far paddle has come.

Competitively

Along with helping run the event, I also had the opportunity to compete in the 2026 Nationals — something I hadn’t done since 2021.

I have to admit, it felt great to be back.

Do I see myself jumping back into a full tournament schedule? Probably not. But stepping onto the court at Nationals again and competing alongside players I’ve shared so many battles with over the years was special.

My partner, Martin Bostrom, and I had another memorable run together. Martin may have played his final Nationals this year, and it was great to share the court with him once again.

We drew the #2 seeded team in the second round, and what followed was one of those classic Nationals battles. Three sets, momentum swings, and a match that could have gone either way. In the end, we fell 6–4 in the third set, but not before giving them a serious scare.

Sometimes matches like that can change the course of a tournament. That battle forced them to refocus and tighten things up — and they ultimately rode that momentum all the way to the Nationals Finals.

Martin and I have always had a great dynamic on the court. He’s the heavy hitter — the guy who can take control of points and apply pressure. I’ve always been more of the setup man, trying to create opportunities and put him in positions to attack.

But what has always mattered most to me is the partnership.

Paddle is a team sport in the truest sense. It’s not just about hitting great shots — it’s about supporting your partner through every point, every game, and every momentum swing. Whether you’re winning comfortably or battling through a tight third set, your partner needs to know you’re right there with them.

That trust and teamwork are everything.

No matter the score, no matter the result, the goal is always the same: compete hard, support your partner, and represent the sport the right way.

Because success in paddle isn’t just defined by the scoreboard. It’s defined by the partnerships we build, the sportsmanship we show, and the community that continues to make this sport so special.

And that’s what makes the APTA Nationals unlike anything else.

Blake Anderson