Good morning, pickleballers!
Welcome to the last report of 2025 – all hands are on deck to get the January magazine ready for launch on Saturday.
So, we wish you a very happy new year in advance and invite you to dive into the latest news below.
Quang Duong Forecasts Asian Takeover of Pro Pickleball
Los Angeles, USA – A bold prediction regarding the future hierarchy of professional pickleball has sparked intense debate across the sporting world, following comments made by Vietnamese superstar Quang Duong.
Fresh off a flight to Los Angeles, the pickleball phenom took to social media to declare that Asia is on the precipice of becoming the sport’s most competitive market. Duong, echoing sentiments attributed to his father, forecasted a seismic shift in the global rankings: within three years, nearly 50 percent of the world’s top male players will hail from Asia.
“Asia is expected to become a highly competitive market for pickleball in 2026,” Duong wrote, noting that the groundwork for this takeover is already visible. While the prediction may seem ambitious to some, recent tournament results provide tangible evidence to support his claim. Duong pointed to the Hangzhou Open, where Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly stunned World No. 2 Federico Staksrud, and Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit secured a shock victory over World No. 4 Connor Garnett.
These upsets suggest the gap between the established American elite and Asia’s rising stars is narrowing faster than anticipated. Duong also expressed frustration with major industry stakeholders who, he claims, dismissed the Asian market as recently as 2023. “They looked down. They didn’t care at all,” Duong remarked regarding former sponsors. “We came to Vietnam in January 2024, and look at the pickleball scene in Vietnam now. It’s funny, everyone is now rushing to Asia”.
With major equipment brands like Franklin Sports and Facolos now aggressively competing for market share alongside giants like JOOLA, the commercial landscape is shifting just as quickly as the talent pool. Duong’s comments signal a region no longer content to follow global trends but determined to dictate them.
Hungarian Horizons: 2026 Tournament Calendar Promises International Breakthrough
Budapest, Hungary – The trajectory of European pickleball is set for a major elevation next year as Pickleball Hungary officially released its 2026 competitive calendar.
Promising a year that is “denser, more exciting, and more international than ever before,” the organisation has laid out a roadmap designed to integrate Hungarian players into the global elite. The headline news from the announcement is the introduction of two major international competitions that will take place on Hungarian soil: the WPC Pannon Cup and the JOOLA Hungarian Open.
Officials describe these additions as a “new level” for the sport in the region, bringing an international field, serious stakes, and strong challenges to local players who are eager to test their mettle against foreign talent. The introduction of these events signals Hungary’s intent to become a central hub for European pickleball, moving beyond local recreational play to hosting high-calibre competitive events.
In addition to the international expansion, the domestic structure is undergoing a significant overhaul. The governing body revealed that the qualification system for the highest level of the National Championship will change starting in 2026. While full details are set to be published in an upcoming official call for entries, the announcement urges athletes to pay close attention to the new regulations.
The organisation has encouraged players to “plan your year in advance” and prepare for a “brutally strong season,” highlighting a focus on development and professional challenges. By marking these dates now, Pickleball Hungary is setting the stage for a transformative year where the local community steps firmly onto the international court.
La Dolce Vita: Italian Pickleball Tour Unveils Innovative 2026 Circuit
Bergamo, Italy – The competitive landscape of European pickleball is set to expand significantly next year as the Italian Pickleball Tour (IPT) unveiled its comprehensive roadmap for the 2026 season.
Kicking off on February 7 in the historic city of Bergamo, the tour promises to blend high-level competition with the scenic beauty of the Italian peninsula. The organisers have announced a sprawling schedule that will wind through culturally rich locations, including stops in Bologna, Versilia, and Sicily, before culminating in a “spectacular final in a mystery location” in October.
The 2026 handbook introduces several player-friendly innovations designed to boost participation and excitement. In a move to make the tour more accessible, the team entry fee has been reduced to €120 per event. The format will feature teams composed of two men and two women, with a flexible roster rule allowing up to three players to remain in competition. Uniquely, the IPT will utilise interchangeable teams at each stop, meaning tournament points will follow the individual player rather than the franchise, ensuring a dynamic leaderboard throughout the season.
Technological integration is also a priority. The tour is “Powered by DUPR,” ensuring that gender doubles scores are uploaded in real-time to the global rating system, allowing Italian players to build their international standing. Matches will utilize rally scoring to ensure fast-paced, dynamic play, with the Franklin X-40 selected as the official tour ball.
From the northern peaks to the southern shores, the tour is positioning itself as a premier “sport-cation” opportunity, explicitly encouraging athletes to “combine the game with a fun trip”.
Anna Leigh Waters Vanishes from Paddletek Online Presence
Austin, USA – The rumour mill in professional pickleball has gone into overdrive following the sudden and total removal of World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters from the digital footprint of her longtime sponsor, Paddletek.
For months, speculation has swirled regarding the future of the sport’s most dominant female athlete and her equipment partnerships. Those whispers reached a fever pitch this week when industry watchers noticed that Waters, once the undisputed “poster child” of the Paddletek brand, had been scrubbed from the company’s website.
Reports confirm that Waters is no longer listed on the homepage, the “Team Paddletek” roster page, or any promotional banners. While her signature paddle, the Bantam ALW-C, remains available for purchase on product pages, her name and likeness have been conspicuously stripped from the marketing materials associated with it. This digital erasure is a significant departure for a brand that has built much of its recent identity around Waters’ meteoric rise.
This development comes amidst unconfirmed reports that Waters may be negotiating a blockbuster move to rival manufacturer JOOLA, though no official announcement has been made by any party. The silence from the Waters camp and Paddletek has only fueled further speculation about the end of one of the sport’s most recognisable partnerships.
As the 2026 season approaches, the equipment choice of the top-ranked women’s pro remains the industry’s biggest unanswered question. For now, the severed digital ties suggest a definitive end to an era for Paddletek and their former marquee star.
Queen of the Court: Mihika Yadav Crowned India’s Player of the Year
Mumbai, India – In a year defined by rapid growth for Indian pickleball, Mihika Yadav has firmly established herself as the face of the women’s game, earning the title of Women’s Player of the Year for 2025.
Yadav’s selection comes on the heels of a season characterised by relentless consistency and podium finishes. Currently ranked 13th in Asia with a formidable DUPR rating of 5.174, Yadav proved nearly unbeatable on the domestic circuit. She secured victories at the Rise Up Championship in Chennai and the IPA Nationals in Bengaluru, cementing her status as the country’s premier women’s singles player.
Her success was not limited to Indian soil. Yadav showcased her skills on the international stage, competing in the inaugural PPA Tour Asia across Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. Her global campaign was highlighted by a gold medal at the Dubai Open and a bronze medal at the Pickleball World Cup in Florida, reaffirming her reputation as one of India’s finest sporting exports.
“Consistency is hard to earn, and in pickleball it is near impossible,” noted sports journalists covering her rise, yet Yadav managed to deliver throughout the calendar year. Her dominance was further recognised during the first edition of the Indian Pickleball League, where she was selected as the superstar female player for the Lucknow Leopards. Despite limited play time in the league format, she made her presence felt by winning the Player of the Tie award in a crucial Eliminator match.
As 2025 closes, Yadav stands as the undisputed standard-bearer for women’s pickleball in the region.
India Unveils Ambitious Roadmap for Global Dominance
New Delhi, India – The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) has officially launched “Mission Statement 2026,” a sweeping strategic initiative titled “The Gold Standard” aimed at transforming India into a global powerhouse in the sport.
Released on December 29, the roadmap outlines aggressive targets for grassroots development and professional infrastructure. IPA President Suryaveer Singh Bhullar announced that the federation plans to leverage its National Sports Federation (NSF) status to formally integrate pickleball into school and university curriculums. The goal is ambitious: to quadruple the number of registered youth players from 50,000 to 200,000 by the end of 2026.
“In 2025, we proved that pickleball belongs in India. In 2026, we will prove that India belongs at the top of the pickleball world,” Bhullar declared.
To support this growth, the IPA plans to establish National High Performance Centres in the North, South, East, and West zones of the country to democratize access to elite training. Furthermore, the association has committed to facilitating the construction of 1,000 new dedicated courts in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through partnerships with local governments and private developers.
The professional circuit will also see massive expansion. The IPA Nationals is projected to grow to 2,000 participants next year, making it Asia’s largest pickleball event. Additionally, the federation will sanction over 50 tournaments annually to feed into a transparent National Ranking system and will expand the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) to include more franchises and cities.
Grassroots Explosion: Pickleball England Celebrates 16,000 Member Milestone
London, United Kingdom – Pickleball England has ended the year on a high note, announcing that the organisation has surpassed the significant milestone of 16,000 registered members.
The governing body confirmed the achievement in a celebratory announcement, highlighting the sport’s explosive growth across the UK. In 2025 alone, the organisation welcomed 5,748 new players to its ranks, a testament to the effectiveness of grassroots campaigns and word-of-mouth promotion.
To mark the occasion, the organisation specially recognized Member #17,312 from Bedfordshire, whose registration helped push the total count past the 16,000 mark before the year’s end. The slight discrepancy between the member ID number and the total count suggests a system that accounts for lapsed memberships or data cleanup, but the active milestone remains a cause for celebration.
“Your support means everything,” the organisation stated, thanking existing members who recommended friends and clubs to join. Looking ahead, Pickleball England has already set its sights on the next targets, rallying the community to push toward 17,000 and eventually 20,000 members in the near future. This surge mirrors global trends, further solidifying pickleball’s status as one of the fastest-growing participation sports in Europe.
Referees Saw Paddle in Half During Bizarre Miami Match
Miami, USA – In one of the most unprecedented moments in pickleball history, a professional match at the Courted Series event descended into surrealism when referees physically destroyed a paddle to verify its legality.
The incident occurred during a match between Thomas Shields and Anna Bright. Shields, noting the unusual velocity and power coming from Bright’s shots, exercised his right to challenge the equipment. “I feel like she’s hitting that ball pretty hard. I’m calling a paddle check,” Shields stated.
Typically, paddle testing involves non-destructive methods or off-site laboratory testing. However, in a move that shocked spectators, the officiating crew proceeded to saw the paddle in half court-side to inspect its interior construction. After what was described as an “extremely careful and thorough analysis” of the destroyed equipment’s core, the officials delivered a verdict that added to the absurdity of the situation. “That’s a clean core,” they declared, ruling the paddle legal.
In a twist that defies physics and standard regulation, reports indicate the paddle was handed back to Bright, who reportedly “continued to play multiple more points with the sawed paddle”. While the event has raised questions about the protocols for on-site compliance checks, it has undeniably provided one of the most viral and bizarre visuals the sport has ever seen.
15-Year-Old Arjun Singh Named India’s Men’s Player of the Year
Bengaluru, India – In a sport often dominated by experience, 15-year-old prodigy Arjun Singh has defied the odds to be named the Men’s Pickleball Player of the Year for 2025.
The Mumbai-born teenager became the talk of the Indian sporting community following a breakout season that saw him outperform seasoned veterans and international stars. His talent was validated during the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) auction, where the Bengaluru Blasters secured his services for a staggering Rs 8 lakh, making him the highest-value young player in the draft.
Singh justified the price tag with a series of high-pressure performances. Known for his aggressive hands and court coverage, he anchored the Blasters’ doubles team alongside Vietnamese pro Phuc Huynh. His composure was most evident in the “Grand Rallies”—high-stakes tiebreakers where he thrived under pressure. In a defining moment against the Mumbai Smashers, Singh held his nerve in a 20-20 deadlock to secure a win against international heavyweights Quang Duong and Allison Harris.
“The kid is young, extremely talented, has great ball movement, phenomenal hands, and was able to compete right there at the top,” praised Shelby Bates of the Lucknow Leopards.
Beyond the league, Singh proved his individual dominance by winning the men’s singles title and a doubles silver at the IPA Nationals in Bengaluru. His unanimous acclaim from peers and rivals alike confirms that Singh is not just a future prospect, but the current standard-bearer for men’s pickleball in India.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris 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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