Professional pickleball players coming to Naperville

For the first time ever, pickleball players of all skill levels are invited to meet and play with two professional pickleball players, Connor Garnett and Rachel Rettger.

These two Professional Pickleball Association champions will participate in an open-to-the-public event at Sure Shot Pickleball in Naperville hosted by Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH. The event will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12.

Cost is $50 per person which includes open play, pro tips, and a free Connor Garnett signature PRO XR pickleball paddle or $75 which also includes an opportunity to play with Garnett and Rettger during the event. Register via the EventBrite.com page. Spots are limited.

Rettger is a homegrown pickleball professional from right here in the western suburbs. She graduated from Glenbard South High School and then played four years of collegiate tennis at Elmhurst University. She was a 5.0 level tennis mixed doubles Nationals gold medal winner. Rettger became a pickleball pro in 2022 and has competed in 15 pro tournaments and 92 pro matches. She works in marketing for JOOLA pickleball which is also her sponsor.

Connor hails from Bellevue, Washington, and currently plays on the Bay Area Breakers professional pickleball team. He is ranked #5 in the nation for men’s singles by the Professional Pickleball Association and has won more than 10 professional medals. He played Division I tennis at Santa Clara University and has hit the ball with Novak Djokovic. Garnett is sponsored by ProRX which created a signature paddle for him. He recently left his job as an investment banker to focus on playing professional pickleball.

For more information, call Ann Pitcher at (630) 234-4150.

About Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH

Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH is an international leader in musculoskeletal health ranked #1 in Illinois and among the top 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. It is comprised of renowned orthopedic and spine surgeons pioneering the latest advances in surgical techniques and nonsurgical care. The physicians are the designated team care providers for several organizations including the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Dogs, Chicago Red Stars, and Joffrey Ballet. It has seven full-service locations in  Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oak Park, Westchester, and  Munster, Ind.  The group also has 18 physical therapy clinics in the Chicago area and Munster, Ind.  Visit www.rushortho.com for more information.