Good morning pickleballers – once again, it is time for the latest pickleball news from all around the world.
Johns Retains #1 Crown at Walgreens Open Amidst Rising Stars; New Women’s Doubles Champions Emerge
Las Vegas, USA – The Las Vegas Convention Center recently hosted the Walgreens Open, where Ben Johns solidified his position as the world’s #1 player, while Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black made waves with a gold medal victory in women’s doubles. Johns and partner Gabe Tardio claimed the men’s doubles title by defeating Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon in a hard-fought final. Johns and Tardio dominated the last two games (11-3, 11-2) after splitting the first two close games (12-10, 10-12). The victory allowed Johns to retain his crown, though the competitive gap with Daescu, who recently led Columbus to an MLP Playoffs title, has notably narrowed.
The women’s doubles saw a significant upset as Johnson and Black triumphed over the previously undefeated pair of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright in the semifinal, before securing gold against Catherine Parenteau and Parris Todd. This victory marked the end of the Waters/Bright undefeated streak, with Johnson and Black’s strong countering ability cited as a key factor.
Beyond the champions, the tournament highlighted the evolution of pro pickleball, with new trends emerging. Power has become a dominant style, featuring more third and fifth shot drives, mid-court power shots, and speedups off the bounce. The western and semi-western grip is also gaining traction, replacing the traditional continental grip for powerful topspin forehands. Furthermore, the two-hand backhand has become almost mandatory, with even veteran players like Federico Staksrud, Andrei Daescu, and Tyra Black incorporating it into their game. The Walgreens Open served as a reminder that while power is prevalent, strategic placement remains king, as seen when old-school players Altaf Merchant and Steve Deakin defeated power-hitting duo Alex Crum and Juan Benitez. The PPA tour will resume on September 8 with the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase.
Gloucestershire Pickleball League Sells Out Rapidly, Signifying Sport’s Explosive UK Growth
Gloucester, UK – The upcoming Gloucestershire Pickleball League has demonstrated the sport’s burgeoning popularity in the UK, with all eight team slots for its inaugural season selling out within just four days. Set to launch on Wednesday, September 10, at Oxstalls in Gloucester, the new competition rapidly filled its roster after an announcement on Facebook.
Sponsored by Punchline-Gloucester.com, the league will feature eight teams split into two divisions. Each squad can comprise up to eight players, with four men and four women available for selection on match nights. Over the course of each evening, teams will engage in three matches against others in their division, requiring two men and two women to compete in every match. The structure allows for weekly player rotation, ensuring broad participation.
The season is slated to run for nine weeks, encompassing eight rounds before culminating in a finals night in 2025. Organisers emphasised that the overwhelming interest “proves there is a demand for a pickleball league in Gloucestershire”, noting the sport is “still quite a new game but expanding fast”. Designed to offer experienced players regular competitive play and opportunities for skill development, the league’s swift sell-out is a clear indicator of pickleball’s rapid growth across the UK. Its success is expected to inspire similar initiatives in other regions, further strengthening the sport’s community and structured competition offerings.
Bengaluru Hosts Successful Pickleball Now Grand Prix, Showcasing Sport’s Growing Appeal
Bengaluru, India – The city of Bengaluru recently vibrated with competitive energy as the Pickleball Now Grand Prix brought together players and enthusiasts for a day dedicated to one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Hosted by Times Network at GoRally, Whitefield, on August 30, the event seamlessly blended competitive spirit with a strong sense of community.
The tournament attracted an impressive turnout, featuring over 60 teams and 120 players, and drawing more than 500 attendees. Matches unfolded across seven dedicated courts, with participants vying for official Pickleball World Ranking (PWR) points, a substantial ₹2 Lakh prize pool, as well as trophies and medals. The event celebrated several victorious duos across different categories:
- Women’s Doubles (Advanced): Kasturi Vighne & Pragati Natraj.
- Men’s Doubles (Advanced): Gowtham & Ranjit.
- Mixed Doubles (Advanced): Spandan PV & Kasturi Vighne.
- Men’s Doubles (Intermediate): Aariv & Vijay.
- Mixed Doubles (Intermediate): Nikhil & Deekshita.
The Pickleball Now Grand Prix garnered significant support from a diverse array of marquee brands spanning lifestyle, tech, mobility, and consumer sectors, underscoring its premium positioning. Presented by Hell Energy Drink and driven by MG Motors, with key partners including Skechers and Just In Time, the event’s success signals a surging interest in pickleball within Bengaluru. Organisers anticipate that this impactful tournament will set the stage for even bigger and more engaging editions in the future, further cementing pickleball’s status in the region.
Oakville Prepares to Host CNPL Metropolitan Split as Canada’s Top Pickleball Teams Vie for Playoff Seeding
Oakville, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) is bringing its highly anticipated Metropolitan Split to Oakville, Ontario, on September 6 and 7, marking the final regular season event of 2025. Hosted at CourtX, this tournament is crucial for eight national teams from both Eastern and Western divisions as they compete for vital playoff seeding. This will be the first time a CNPL event is held at CourtX in Oakville, promising a fresh venue for fierce competition.
The two-day event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and feature 48 of Canada’s top pickleball players. Each team is composed of six athletes, with a minimum of five Canadian players, showcasing the nation’s elite talent. Participating teams include the Prairie Pronghorns, Detroit-Windsor Drive, Northern Lights Ontario Pickleball, Vancouver Owls, Northern Lights, Southwestern Ontario Brewers, Montreal Lions, and the hometown Toronto United Pickleball Club.
For spectators eager to witness the intense rallies and rivalries, grounds passes are available for $5 online in advance or $10 at the door per day. Amateur players and CNPL professionals, however, do not require a pass and can register directly. The Metropolitan Split is more than just a tournament; it serves as a critical determinant for playoff positions and further promotes the rapidly expanding sport across Canada. The CNPL continues to be the premier platform for pickleball in the country, aiming to showcase players, strengthen community support, and inspire broader participation in the game.
Senior Stars Shine Bright: Lee Whitwell Dominates AARP Divisions at 2025 APP Chicago Open
Highland Park, USA – The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) concluded its 2025 APP Chicago Open over Labor Day weekend at Danny Cunniff Park in Highland Park, celebrating an array of impressive performances, particularly from its senior divisions. The tournament showcased the growing talent and competitive spirit across amateur, AARP Champions (50+), and AARP Masters (60+) divisions.
A standout performance came from Lee Whitwell in the AARP Champions Division (50+), who secured a remarkable three gold medals. Whitwell claimed victory in women’s singles, women’s doubles alongside Angela Simon, and mixed doubles with Jaime Oncins. Other notable winners in this division included Youssef Bouzidi, who captured the men’s singles title, and the men’s doubles pair of Jaime Oncins and Marcello Jardim.
The AARP Masters Division (60+) also saw seasoned players shine brightly. Lupita Curiel won the women’s singles, while Howard Mendel earned the men’s singles crown. Mixed doubles gold went to Heather Iffert and John Moorin, with Yannet Brister and Kelly Ojeda taking the women’s doubles title, and Dan Granot and Scott Moore securing the men’s doubles gold. This event underscored the significant growth of pickleball across all age groups and skill levels, proving that senior divisions offer incredibly exciting and competitive play. The success of these experienced champions further solidifies the APP Tour’s reputation as a premier circuit for high-level pickleball nationwide.
Master Your Position: The Key to Elevating Your Pickleball Game and DUPR Rating
Pickleball Insights, USA – Many pickleball players frequently lose points not due to weak swings but rather poor court positioning, a critical factor that can significantly impact a player’s performance and Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). Mastering proper positioning is essential to preventing easy errors, cutting off opponent angles, and enhancing overall game strategy.
Key positioning tips highlighted by experts include:
- Rapid Movement to the Kitchen: Players should swiftly advance from the baseline to the kitchen line immediately after returning a serve, actively avoiding the “transition trap” of staying in mid-court.
- Central Court Focus: Targeting the middle of the court for serves and returns is a smart defensive strategy, reducing angles for opponents and setting up subsequent shots.
- Synchronised Partner Movement: In doubles, partners must move in unison, as if connected, staying within one lane of each other to eliminate exploitable gaps. Clear communication through calls like “mine,” “yours,” or “middle” is vital to avoid confusion.
- Ready Stance and Anticipation: A proper ready stance—feet shoulder-width apart, paddle held between hip and chest height and slightly tilted to the backhand—ensures balance, quick reactions, and mental preparedness.
Understanding real-life scenarios, such as sliding back to cover the middle when a partner is lobbed or immediately sprinting to the kitchen after a deep return, helps maintain court control. When facing cross-court dinks, both partners should slide diagonally together to protect the middle. Ultimately, good positioning leads to fewer mistakes, stronger rallies, and smarter play, directly contributing to a higher DUPR. This strategic teamwork transforms defence into an offensive advantage, making teams significantly harder to beat.
Unlocking the 4.5 Level: Consistency, Strategy, and Smart Shot Selection Define Advanced Pickleball Play
Pickleball Instruction, USA – Aspiring advanced pickleball players often overestimate their skill level, but reaching the coveted 4.5 rating requires a distinct blend of consistency, strategic shot selection, and profound game awareness. A true 4.5 player demonstrates mastery beyond just hitting good shots, focusing on repeatable execution and tactical play to keep opponents on their heels.
At this level, serves and returns are consistently delivered with depth and pace. The third shot is a strategic mix of drives and drops, designed to apply pressure or gain court position. Players also use their fourth shot effectively to pin opponents back and prevent easy kitchen line access. Forehands and backhands are powerful, consistent, and precise, used to create errors or set up further attacks. Volleys, especially overheads, are put away with ease, while defensive volleys are blocked or dropped into the kitchen.
Dinking becomes an offensive weapon, with precise placement and varied types, and the ability to attack airborne balls. Crucially, a 4.5 player possesses a wide array of shots and consistently chooses the right shot for the situation, demonstrating intuitive understanding. Their footwork is fluid, allowing easy movement across the court and quick direction changes, always positioning themselves optimally relative to their own and their partner’s shots.
Game awareness and partner communication are paramount; 4.5 players move in sync, effectively stack, and understand opponent strengths and weaknesses to exploit or avoid them. They can also adapt their play style on the fly, quickly neutralising opponents’ strategies. While a significant leap from 4.0, the jump to a 5.0 player involves even greater consistency, force, and near-expert execution, adaptation, and finishing. The journey to 4.5 emphasises continuous focus, learning from mistakes, and making the right strategic plays impulsively.
Singapore’s Yeo Jih-Shian Achieves Historic PPA Asia Triple Crown in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China – Singapore’s Yeo Jih-Shian (JS), a top elite over-50s player in Asia, recently made history by securing a triple crown at a PPA Asia event in Hong Kong, winning three gold medals across different categories. This marked JS’s first triple crown, a testament to his exceptional endurance, mental fortitude, and consistent training.
Despite the demanding schedule of competing in three events, JS credits his excellent partners, Hian Tee in men’s doubles and Pini in mixed doubles, for much of his success. He maintains his physical conditioning through regular drilling sessions, which he finds more taxing than actual matches, often drilling in the afternoon and playing in the evening to build stamina. Beyond physical prowess, JS emphasises the critical role of mental fortitude and focus, highlighting his positive outlook, ability to learn from errors, and supportive community as key motivators. His victory in singles, a category he sometimes skips to prioritise doubles, stemmed from specific training and building momentum from a prior singles win.
JS praised the improved player experience at the Hong Kong venue compared to previous events, noting the availability of seats, clear match timings, and air-conditioning. However, he also offered constructive feedback for PPA Asia, suggesting earlier publication of event dates, prize money for non-19+ pros, improved match scheduling to minimise waiting, and greater inclusivity for senior pro categories, including prize money for women’s 50+. Looking ahead, JS plans to compete in the PPA KL Cup and other tournaments. He also expressed immense gratitude for his sponsorship from Sypik, which he views as “extremely helpful” and inspiring for senior athletes in the sports industry. JS advises aspiring players to stay positive, calm, grounded, drill consistently, and learn from every match, while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
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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