NYA Sports & Fitness Center hosted the opening day of the 2023 USA Pickleball Atlantic Diamond Regional last weekend, welcoming some of the players from 17 states who had registered for the three-day event.

The March 31 matches in Newtown were the first of three days of competition. The weekend regional culminated on April 2 in New Haven.

Newtown hosted the men’s singles matches, according to J.P. Favretto, who was part of the team that coordinated the tournament. The regional had 514 registered players.

Favretto also coordinates the pickleball program at NYA.

Favretto started his day in Newtown, where play opened at 8 am.

“Well over 120 matches” were played in Newtown alone, he told The Newtown Bee this week. The local games concluded around 7:20 Friday evening, he added.

Women’s matches began mid-afternoon on Friday, also according to Favretto. Those games continued until 11 pm, he said.

Competition continued in New Haven on Saturday and Sunday, with men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles play also conducted.

Last weekend’s tournament was the second in a series of 12 Diamond Amateur Championships scheduled across the country this year. The regional tournaments will culminate at the 2023 Diamond Amateur Championship taking place in December in Holly Hill, Fla.

For additional information about the pickleball program at NYA call 203-426-0088 or visit NYAsportsfitness.com.

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.