BUCKEYE, AZ – The 28 pickleball courts at Sun City Festival in Buckeye, Arizona, will be filled with some of the top-ranked players from across the country.

The athletes are playing in the Nationals VI tournament hosted by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) Nov. 2-9, 2014.

Pickleball is one of the fast-growing sports in America, with more than 200,000 players from all different age groups, combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong.

To insure that injuries don’t occur on the pickleball court, OrthoArizona physicians will be on-site to help out during the tournament.

The physicians will provide consults for any pickleball player looking for orthopedic advice or dealing with a more serious injury.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for both organizations, [USA Pickleball Association] and OrthoArizona,” said Dr. Shelden Martin with OrthoArizona. “We’re honored and privileged to be able to take care of them during this weeklong tournament.”

This is the largest tournament in the history of the sport with 713 players.

If interested in talking to an OrthoArizona physician about how to prevent injuries on the pickleball court, while watching top USAPA players show your reporters how to play, contact Brandy Aguilar.

Sun City Festival is located at 26415 W. Desert Vista Blvd. in Buckeye, AZ 85396.  Admission is free with tournament play starting daily at 8 a.m.

About OrthoArizona: 

OrthoArizona includes more than 70 premier orthopedic specialists. Our physicians specialize in diverse areas of orthopedic care including sports medicine, joint replacement, spine treatment, hand surgery, foot and ankle care, workers’ compensation and trauma care. Formerly known as OSNA, OrthoArizona has over 35 offices throughout the Valley that focus on quality care, compassion and exceptional customer service. For more information, visit www.OrthoArizona.org. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.

About the USAPA:     

The sport of pickleball is governed by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA.org), a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that advocates the growth of pickleball by maintaining the rules and player ratings, promoting the sport through its national network of Ambassadors and sanctioning a record 101 tournaments in 2014. Visit http://www.usapa │Facebook.com/USAPickleballAssociation.