Montvale, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA) is joining the Carvana PPA Tour as Official Kitchen Appliance Sponsor for two stops this fall: the Veolia Arizona Open in Mesa, Arizona, from September 14–20, and the Rate Las Vegas Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 28–October 4.
Sharp builds a working kitchen inside pickleball's 'kitchen'
Starting Thursday, October 1, at the Las Vegas event, Sharp will convert the sport's non-volley zone — nicknamed "the kitchen" — into a fully functional Sharp kitchen through an activation called "Sharp In the Kitchen." Fans can watch live cooking demos, play interactive games, meet players and check out Sharp's appliance lineup, including the Celerity High-Speed Oven and Smart Microwave Drawer Oven. A courtside Sharp refrigerator will also let athletes refuel during matches.
Richard Blais and Anna Leigh Waters headline a Saturday cooking session
On Saturday, October 3, chef and Next Level Chef co-host Richard Blais will lead live culinary experiences in the Sharp Kitchen, joined by pickleball's world No. 1 player, Anna Leigh Waters, and other tour stars. Blais said he has been "obsessed with pickleball for a while now" and called the chance to cook alongside PPA's top players "next level." Waters said she enjoys cooking and looks forward to showing fans "a completely different side" of the athletes off the court.
Sharp frames the tie-up as bringing food and sport together
SHCA President Grace Dolan said pickleball's rule to stay out of the kitchen is exactly what the brand is playfully breaking, positioning its appliances as designed to make cooking "simple and enjoyable." Carvana PPA Tour Founder & CEO Connor Pardoe said the partnership connects with fans by celebrating the community around the sport. Details on Sharp's presence and its "Win In The Kitchen" Sweepstakes are available through the tour's promotional site.