What’s the Score?
From December 5 to 8, the historic Italian city of Siena transformed into a hub for European pickleball. The Siena International Pickleball Open 2025 attracted 90 players from eight nations, but the podiums were painted with the Union Jack. British stars James Chaudry and Thaddea Lock achieved rare “Triple Crowns,” sweeping the gold medals in singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles, asserting their dominance over the continental field.
Hit it deeper!
Held at the Sportland and Pickleball Colle complex, the tournament featured 204 total registrations across various categories. The venue, boasting four new indoor courts and on-site hospitality, provided a high-end backdrop for the competition. However, on the court, the British contingent was merciless. James Chaudry won the Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles (with Charles Bowen-Rayner), and Mixed Doubles. Thaddea Lock matched him step-for-step, taking the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles (with Eleanor Tomkinson), and sharing the Mixed Doubles title with Chaudry.
Despite the British sweep, the host nation found reasons to celebrate, particularly in the junior ranks. Alessandro Di Giulio emerged as a prodigy, dominating the Under-16 categories by winning both the Singles and Doubles (with Alessio Gabbiani). In the adult brackets, Italians Davide Vendrame and Silvia Mocciola put up a strong fight, earning silver in the Open Mixed Doubles, while Matteo Cugliari reached the Men’s Singles final.
The event was supported by major partners, including Joola and the tech partner Anytimes. Organisers expressed satisfaction with the high technical level and the international atmosphere, confirming that the tournament will return to Siena in September 2026.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Siena Open highlights the current hierarchy of European pickleball: the British are setting the standard, but the rest of the continent is chasing hard. The comprehensive victory by Chaudry and Lock shows the depth of the UK game, yet the performance of Italian juniors like Di Giulio suggests that the next generation of continental talent will be more evenly distributed. Events like this, which combine high-level competition with destination travel (Tuscany), are essential for knitting together the fragmented European pickleball community.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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