Good morning, pickleballers!
Wednesday! Hands up if you got a good hit in yesterday?
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.
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.
APP Unveils Expanded 2026 Schedule for Elite 50+ Professionals
Seattle, USA – The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has officially announced its 2026 calendar for the AARP Champions (50+) and AARP Masters (60+) Divisions, solidifying its commitment to senior professional pickleball. The upcoming season features a ten-stop tour across the United States, anchored by the return of the marquee AARP Open in Seattle from March 26-29.
The 2026 season represents a significant evolution for the APP, with a focus on larger events that offer expanded prize purses and enhanced fan experiences. These premier tournaments will benefit from increased linear TV broadcast hours, further establishing the APP as a leader in the sport. APP Founder Ken Herrmann noted that the senior divisions are a “true testament” to the sport’s inclusivity, showcasing the passion and energy of seasoned athletes.
The AARP Open in Seattle is set to be a highlight of the season, taking place in the state where pickleball was originally founded. This specific event is designed as an intergenerational celebration, welcoming players of all skill levels—from 3.0 amateurs to elite pros—to compete on a global stage.
Key stops on the 2026 tour following the Seattle opener include the APP Sacramento Open, the Vlasic Classic in Cincinnati, and the APP Chicago Open. The season will conclude with the APP Tour Championships from December 3-6. Player registration is expected to open in the coming weeks via the APP’s official website, providing a pathway for the world’s top senior talent to compete for national titles.
Underdog Stunner and Veteran Clashes Highlight PPA Masters Action
Rancho Mirage, USA – The 2026 pro pickleball season launched with explosive energy at Mission Hills Country Club, as the Carvana PPA Masters delivered early upsets and highly anticipated veteran matchups. The tournament’s narrative was immediately shifted by a massive upset in the men’s singles draw, where Harrison Brown, ranked ninth in Australia, stunned Asia’s No. 3 seed Armaan Bhatia.
Brown defeated Bhatia, India’s top-ranked player, in a hard-fought three-game battle (11-6, 7-11, 11-5). Despite Bhatia entering with a significantly higher DUPR rating, Brown’s composure in the deciding game ended the favourite’s campaign in the round of 128. Although Brown was later eliminated by John Lucian Goins, his victory over Bhatia stands as one of the most significant results of the opening rounds.
The action continued into Wednesday’s Round of 32 with a “clash of titans” in the men’s singles bracket between Tyson McGuffin and Jay Devilliers. This matchup, which historically occurred on Championship Sundays, saw two of the sport’s most tenured stars face off for the 14th time. McGuffin ultimately secured the win with a clinical 11-7, 11-5 performance.
Fans also turned their attention to the mixed doubles court, where No. 18 seeds Rachel Rohrabacher and Will Howells faced No. 12 seeds Meghan Dizon and Eric Oncins. Howells, playing in his first event as a contracted PPA pro, saw his seeding impacted by a lack of prior ranking points, making the early-round encounter a high-stakes battle for a spot in the final 16. The tournament continues to provide a platform for both established stars like Anna Leigh Waters and rising talents finding success through dedicated training.
DUPR and PB Vision Launch AI-Powered Video Ratings for All
Delray Beach, USA – In a move set to transform how players understand their skill levels, DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) has announced a landmark partnership with Pickleball Vision AI (PB Vision). This collaboration aims to integrate AI-powered video analysis into the official DUPR rating system, providing a faster and more accurate “on-ramp” for new players entering the pickleball ecosystem.
Soon, players can upload gameplay videos to PB Vision to receive an objective DUPR AI rating. This technology analyses performance beyond just match results, offering insights into whether a player was being targeted by opponents or how they impacted play regardless of the final score. New users are currently offered one free video analysis to help them identify strengths and weaknesses.
The long-term vision for the partnership includes a composite rating model that blends traditional match data with video performance metrics. DUPR CEO Tito Machado emphasised that the priority is maintaining a single, unified rating standard for the sport. Future updates will allow players to submit videos directly through the DUPR mobile app, receiving both a rating and a detailed breakdown of their gameplay.
By aligning with DUPR as its exclusive rating partner, PB Vision will focus on delivering complementary performance analytics that help players move their ratings up over time through focused improvement. This technology is expected to reinforce DUPR’s position as the “source of truth” for players across all levels, from local clubs to major professional leagues like the PPA and MLP.
Facolos Named Official Paddle Partner for PPA Tour USA
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Facolos has reached a historic milestone in the pickleball industry by becoming the Official Paddle Partner of the PPA Tour USA. This partnership marks the first time an Asian brand has officially joined the ranks of the world’s leading professional pickleball circuit, signalling a major shift in the sport’s global commercial landscape.
The agreement aligns Facolos with the highest standards of competitive pickleball, as the PPA Tour is widely regarded as the premier global platform for the sport. By entering the rigorous American market, Facolos aims to develop its products and brand identity within the most demanding professional environments.
This strategic move follows other significant global investments by the brand, including the recent signing of professional player Gabe Tardio to a sponsorship deal. Facolos representatives described the partnership as a “long-term orientation” focused on influencing the global pickleball community from the heart of the sport’s professional hub in the United States. The brand’s journey with the PPA Tour is now officially underway, bringing a new international perspective to the American courts.
Major League Pickleball Reshapes 2026 Season with Return of Group Play and Flexible Lineups
Dallas, USA – Major League Pickleball (MLP) has unveiled sweeping competition changes for its 2026 Premier level season, prioritising a high-stakes format and strategic flexibility. The most significant shift is the return to group play for regular-season events, where ten teams will be divided into two groups of five for round-robin competition.
Under the new structure, the top four teams from each group will advance to Sunday play. Sunday will feature “same-seed” matchups, where the #1 team from Group A faces the #1 team from Group B to determine the event champion. These final matches carry massive weight; the winning team on Sunday earns 25 standings points, while the loser receives 18. This format ensures every match builds toward a climactic finish, with teams able to earn a maximum of 125 points over five regular-season events.
Lineup management has also been revolutionized. Teams are no longer required to designate “starters” and “bench players,” allowing them to use all six rostered athletes as they see fit for doubles, mixed doubles, and DreamBreakers. This change places a new premium on singles specialists, who can now be utilized specifically for DreamBreaker scenarios even if they did not compete in earlier games.
The league has also updated its post-season structure, with the playoffs expanding to include 12 of the 18 teams. The post-season will take place over three weekends in Dallas, San Diego, and New York City. A single waiver period is scheduled for July 1, 2026, giving teams one opportunity to swap a rostered player for a UPA-signed athlete following the event at Randall’s Island.
Vasvár Set to Host Festive Hungarian Pickleball Carnival Cup
Vasvár, Hungary – The 2026 Hungarian pickleball season is set to kick off with the traditional Farsang Kupa (Carnival Cup) on February 7-8. Hosted at the Vasvár Primary School gymnasium, the event combines competitive spirit with a festive atmosphere, encouraging players to embrace the carnival season through creative and colourful costumes.
The tournament is designed to be accessible to the entire community, as no official racing license is required to participate. Competition categories include Men’s and Women’s doubles on Saturday, followed by Mixed doubles on Sunday. Depending on participation numbers and available time, organisers may also introduce a small team competition to the schedule.
A key highlight of the event is the community dinner held on Saturday night, designed to bring players together to celebrate the start of the competition year. Registration for the cup remains open until February 2, with skill levels to be determined based on the final number of entrants. With its blend of festive costumes, intense doubles battles, and social gatherings, the Carnival Cup promises to be a vibrant start for Pickleball Hungary.
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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