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Waters Hits 40, $300K Hanoi Cup, Pickleball in the Himalayas

By Chris Beaumont January 19, 2026 10 min read

Good morning, pickleballers!

Yikes, it is Friday again.

Before we get cracking with today’s pickleball news, the January issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live and free to read. Explore global stories from Türkiye, Poland, Italy, Japan, India, Pakistan, and more, alongside wider coverage of governance, refereeing, and how the sport is developing worldwide.

Read the full issue here.

If you enjoy it, please share it with your pickleball friends and communities. You can also follow @worldpickleballmagazine on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and many other major podcast platforms.

In the latest episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with Leon Stanga, President and pioneering force behind Pickleball Venezuela.

Leon shares the remarkable story of how pickleball took root in Venezuela, from early grassroots efforts to building a national structure for the sport. The conversation explores the challenges of growing pickleball in emerging markets, the role of leadership and education, and what it takes to introduce a new sport in regions where resources, awareness, and infrastructure can be limited.

 

And then Gordon Watson joined me for the weekly news podcast – an update on what the team has been working on behind the scenes, including the continued growth and global reach of World Pickleball Magazine. From there, the conversation moves into one of the busiest periods in recent memory for paddle sponsorships, breaking down major player signings such as Anna Leigh Waters joining Franklin, Federico Staksrud Tardio’s move to Falcolos, and wider shifts involving Friday and Engage.

Here’s the latest pickleball news.

From Player to Playcaller: DiMuzio Takes Helm of York Yeti in Historic Move

Oakville, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) has witnessed a remarkable full-circle moment as the York Yeti announced the signing of Victoria DiMuzio as their Head Coach for the 2026 season. In a league where she was drafted 8th overall just two years prior, DiMuzio is returning not merely as a former player, but as a leader with elite professional experience.

DiMuzio’s trajectory in the sport has been meteoric. During her 2024 rookie season with the Southwestern Ontario Brewers (now the Yeti), she dominated the court, securing a 67% win percentage and eight Player of the Match awards—the best career winning percentage for a female player in the league’s history. Following her success in Canada, she moved to Delray Beach, Florida, to compete full-time on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, where she rapidly climbed to a Top 35 world ranking.

What makes this hiring unique is that DiMuzio remains an active professional athlete. She was recently selected 11th overall by the Atlanta Bouncers in the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Draft and continues to train daily alongside the world’s best players. The Yeti ownership, led by former NHL players Cody Hodgson and T.J. Brodie, views her active status as a major asset, believing her insights from the highest level of competition will instil a championship culture in the franchise.

DiMuzio will now split her time between competing on the PPA Tour and developing the Yeti roster, which already includes key players Ava Kalist and Kyle Hermetz. The 2026 CNPL season is set to kick off in May at CourtX in Oakville, where DiMuzio will look to translate her on-court dominance into coaching success.

Waters Claims 40th Triple Crown While Haworth and Johns Strike Gold at PPA Masters

Palm Springs, USA – The 2026 PPA Tour season exploded into action at the Mission Hills Country Club this week, culminating in a record-breaking performance by Anna Leigh Waters and a dramatic finish in men’s singles. In a stunning display of endurance and skill, 18-year-old Waters secured her 40th career Triple Crown, battling through over three and a half hours of play on Championship Sunday alone.

Waters’ dominance began in women’s doubles alongside Anna Bright. After a tense semifinal comeback, the duo swept the Kawamoto sisters 12-10, 11-3, 11-2 to claim their 15th title together. Waters then capped her day with a crushing 11-1, 11-4 victory over Kate Fahey in the women’s singles final. However, the mixed doubles final proved to be the day’s instant classic. Waters and Ben Johns rallied from a 1-2 game deficit to defeat Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin in a five-game thriller, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4.

On the men’s side, Chris Haworth continued his ascent, capturing his second consecutive singles title. Haworth defeated tennis star Jack Sock 11-8, 11-8, though the match ended on a somber note as Sock suffered an apparent hamstring injury on the final point. Despite the injury, the tournament was a breakthrough for Sock, who reached the quarterfinals in all three disciplines for the first time.

In men’s doubles, the new partnership of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio proved immediately fruitful. The pair cruised to gold without dropping a game all tournament, defeating Christian Alshon and Hayden Patriquin in the final. This victory marked Johns’ fourth consecutive men’s doubles title at the Mission Hills venue.

Thor’s Hammer and CT Scans: Inside the Aerospace-Grade Future of Pickleball

Coeur d’Alene, USA – Deep inside a high-tech facility in Idaho, the future of pickleball equipment is being forged with technology typically reserved for aerospace engineering. Selkirk LABS has unveiled a rigorous testing process that includes CT scanners, optical profilometers, and a durability cannon nicknamed “Mjölnir,” after Thor’s hammer.

The facility represents a significant leap forward in sports science. The durability cannon fires pickleballs at stationary paddles at speeds reaching 120 miles per hour to test structural integrity. “When the ball leaves the durability cannon and makes contact with the paddle, it emits a booming sound,” noted Tom Barnes, Selkirk’s director of research and development. Beyond impact testing, the lab utilizes an optical profilometer to inspect paddle surfaces at a microscopic level, ensuring grit and ink application meet precise standards.

Perhaps the most advanced tool in their arsenal is a CT scanner, which allows engineers to perform non-destructive testing by looking inside the paddle’s core to verify assembly quality. The lab also employs a “performance cannon” to measure energy transfer efficiency, ensuring that power limits are respected to keep the game playable on standard courts.

Founded in 2014 by the Barnes family, Selkirk has committed exclusively to pickleball. Despite the advanced machinery, Tom Barnes believes the industry is still in its infancy. “Even today, with all of this, I feel like we’re five percent of the way there,” he said, predicting that the technology driving the sport will look “insane” within five years. This scientific approach underscores the sport’s rapid transition from a backyard pastime to a highly engineered professional pursuit.

The Dragon Rises: PPA Tour Asia Announces $300,000 Hanoi Cup

Hanoi, Vietnam – Professional pickleball is set to take a major leap forward in Asia with the announcement of the MB Hanoi Cup 2026, the first stop on the new PPA Tour Asia calendar. As the sport continues its global expansion, Vietnam’s capital will play host to the PPA Asia 1000 tournament, featuring a substantial prize purse of US$300,000.

The tournament organisers have leaned into local culture for the event, noting that Hanoi was originally known as Thang Long, or “the Dragon rising to the sky,” a fitting symbol for the tour’s ambition in the region. The event is scheduled to take place from April 1 through April 5, 2026.

This tournament represents a significant financial opportunity for professional players in the region. Gold medalists in doubles can earn up to $7,500, while singles champions will take home $4,500, with bonuses available for PPA Pro signed players. Registration for the event is slated to open on January 30, signalling the start of a busy season that will eventually move on to Kuala Lumpur and Macao.

By establishing a high-stakes tour stop in Vietnam, PPA Tour Asia is capitalising on the region’s emerging hotspots for the sport. The event promises to bring “the heat” to the courts, setting the tone for professional competition in Asia for the remainder of the year.

Courts Sprout in Kathmandu as Pickleball Takes Root in the Himalayas

Kathmandu, Nepal – While pickleball’s explosion in North America is well-documented, a quiet revolution is taking place in the Himalayas. In Kathmandu, the sport is experiencing “surprisingly fast” growth, evolving from a curiosity fueled by a few portable nets into a legitimate athletic movement with over 30 courts across the capital.

According to the Pickleball Association Nepal, the sport was introduced only a few years ago by enthusiasts returning from travels abroad. Initially, the local community relied on just two portable nets and a handful of paddles for friendly matches. Today, however, the landscape has shifted dramatically, with structured training sessions and consistent participation across various age groups.

The sport’s appeal in Nepal is largely practical. The compact size of a pickleball court—significantly smaller than those required for football or basketball—makes it an ideal fit for the limited urban spaces available in Kathmandu. Additionally, the ability to play both indoors and outdoors has made it a popular exercise option even during the winter months.

Despite this enthusiasm, the sport faces hurdles. Infrastructure development remains a pressing challenge, as does the need for structured programs to professionalise the game while keeping it accessible. However, local leaders remain optimistic, viewing the rapid adoption by urban residents as a vote of confidence that pickleball is in Nepal to stay.

Courtside in the Atlantic: Commercial Winter League Swings into Action

Hamilton, Bermuda – The competitive spirit has returned to the courts of Bermuda this month as the Pickleball Association of Bermuda launched its Commercial Winter League. The league, which serves as a cornerstone for organised play on the island, officially began on January 13 and is scheduled to run through March 10.

Taking place at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium, the league brings together a diverse mix of talent, featuring men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles competitions. Matches are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm, accommodating a range of skill levels from beginners to advanced players.

The establishment of the Winter League highlights the rapid expansion of pickleball in Bermuda. Once a niche activity, the paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis has seen participation surge across multiple age groups in recent years. By organising a commercial league structure, the Association is providing a formal platform for this growing community to compete and develop. As teams take to the courts over the next two months, the league promises to keep the local pickleball scene vibrant through the winter season.

Science on the Court: New Paddle Verification System Debuts to Combat Counterfeits

Glendale, USA – In a move set to redefine amateur competition standards, USA Pickleball and Pickleball Instruments have announced a groundbreaking partnership to introduce professional-grade paddle testing at grassroots events. The initiative, which debuts at the 2026 Golden Ticket Tournament in Glendale, aims to ensure fair play and combat the growing issue of equipment counterfeiting.

The new field-testing program is designed to be fast and accessible. Players at participating tournaments will have their paddles tested for coefficient of friction, deflection, weight, and balance—a process taking less than five minutes. Once tested, paddles are tagged with an RFID sticker, allowing players to view their own equipment data via a mobile app scheduled for release in March 2026.

“Equipment integrity is fundamental to fair competition,” stated Carl Schmits, Chief Technical Officer of USA Pickleball. The system is built to account for natural wear and tear, a critical feature for amateur players whose equipment varies widely compared to pros.

Beyond the U.S., this initiative is being viewed as a potential blueprint for emerging markets in Asia, where equipment regulation remains inconsistent. By decentralising verification through testing kiosks at clubs and events, the program offers a scalable solution for maintaining competitive integrity globally. The long-term goal includes full counterfeit identification capabilities, leveraging cooperation between manufacturers and distributors to protect players from non-compliant gear.

Photo of Chris Beaumont

Chris Beaumont

Founder and Editor-in-Chief
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris 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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