A sign is seen painted on a wall during a pickleball practice at the East Naples Community Park in Naples, Fla. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. With the US Open Pickleball Championships coming in a couple months (April), the county is scrambling to get enough courts ready. (Logan Newell/Special to the Daily News)

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By Adam Fisher of the Naples Daily News

With three weeks still remaining for players to register and seven weeks before the tournament starts, the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships have broken a record.

The event, coming to Naples at the end of April, already is the biggest pickleball tournament in history.

The sport is less than a decade old, so there isn't a long past to judge it against. Still, breaking a record for participation is an impressive feat for the U.S. Open in its first year.

"Now we can be considered the largest (pickleball tournament) in the world," U.S. Open director Jim Ludwig said. "People are coming in from all over the country, all over the world."

Late last week, the event had 768 players registered from at least 10 countries, Ludwig said. The U.S. Open surpassed last year's USA Pickleball Association Nationals, which had 747 players, as the sport's largest event.

The U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, which run April 27-May 1 at East Naples Community Park, also had another big announcement Monday. Minto Communities, which has homes throughout Florida including Naples, was announced as the event's title sponsor.

With houses in TwinEagles in North Naples and The Isles of Collier Preserve on the way to Marco Island, Minto is buying in to the benefit pickleball will have locally and for its residents.

Minto senior vice president William Bullock praised Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, who championed the sport and helped raise money for the courts at East Naples Community Park.

"Commissioner Fiala brought leadership, enthusiasm and determination to the process of bringing another exciting amenity and event to the Naples community," Bullock said in a press release. "The U.S. Open Pickleball Championships will have a positive impact on Collier County's economy.

"Minto anticipated the growing popularity of this sport, and included pickleball courts in our newest communities. We are proud to be title sponsor of this event that will introduce a dynamic and entertaining sport to residents and visitors, and attract competitors from throughout the world to Naples."

While U.S. Open officials work on organizing and scheduling the event, crews at the park are working on the infrastructure. In February, construction began on 12 permanent pickleball courts in East Naples.

In addition to the courts that the park already has and the addition of temporary ones, the goal is to have more than 40 playable surfaces by the time the event starts. That includes a championship court where the U.S. Open finals will take place.

Admission to the park during the tournament is free. Spectators can watch matches on many of the courts. However, seating at the championship court is $10 on April 27, 28 and May 1. The cost is $20 on April 29-30, when the most competitive finals will take place.

Pickleball started a rise in popularity in 2008, and advocates call it the fastest-growing sport in the world. It's a cross between tennis and ping-pong, played with a hard paddle and a Wiffle ball on a badminton-sized court.

The interest is big in Southwest Florida, where the demographic fits that of the sport - more than 60 percent of pickleball players are 55 or older.

However, the U.S. Open will bring in players from all ages and skill level. The goal, Ludwig said, is to crown the best player in the world in every age group and skill level.

In the pro division, at least 50 players will compete for a share of the $25,000 purse.

As a trial run for the record-setting event, U.S. Open organizers held a smaller tournament in Naples this past weekend. The Southern Tropics/Naples Pickleball Tournament included 266 players from all over the country.

"Everything went off without a hitch," Ludwig said. "We're very, very confident (about the U.S. Open). Because last weekend was so successful, we've gotten a lot more interest.

"I guarantee people will love it."