Good morning, pickleballers!
Championship Sunday is here – I’m excited for the PPA finals today and for any of you playing in a tournament.
Before you dive into today’s pickleball news, have a listen to our latest podcast.
In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Gordon Watson and I dive deep into one of the most anticipated moments in professional pickleball: Season Two of the World Pickleball League (WPBL).
We preview what’s ahead for WPBL Season 2, set for January 24 to February 8, 2026, at Jio World Garden in Mumbai, India. We discuss the league’s expansion and global significance as teams prepare to battle it out in one of the sport’s most ambitious franchise competitions. With players from around the world drafted into city-based teams and a festival-style fan experience planned, this season is shaping up to be a milestone for pickleball’s growth and global profile.
Listen below and subscribe to the World Pickleball Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms for weekly news and insights about the sport’s biggest developments.
Here’s the very latest pickleball news from around the world.
Beyond the Push: Experts Unveil the “Three-Drop” Strategy to Revolutionise Amateur Pickleball Games
Austin, USA – A singular approach to the third-shot drop is no longer sufficient for players looking to dominate the kitchen line, according to new instructional insights released by The Dink Media Team this week. As the sport evolves, experts warn that relying solely on a basic drop shot allows opponents to predict trajectories and capitalise on weak returns, turning a defensive necessity into a “put-away opportunity of your nightmares”.
To counter this, pickleball analyst Cam Luhring is advocating for a three-pronged approach to the third shot: the Slice Drop, the Drip, and the Topspin Drop. The strategy is designed to keep opponents off-balance and prevent them from getting comfortable at the net. The foundation of this arsenal is the Slice Drop, or push drop. Described as the “bread and butter” for defensive recovery, this shot requires a locked wrist and a pushing motion, making it the most forgiving option when a player is out of position. Luhring recommends the “slinky drill,” where partners retreat from the kitchen to the baseline, to master this essential touch.
Once the foundation is set, players are encouraged to graduate to the Drip, a hybrid between a drop and a drive. By brushing up from “six o’clock to twelve o’clock” on the ball with a shorter backswing, players can inject pace and disguise the shot to catch opponents off guard. Finally, the Topspin Drop serves as the modern, high-percentage weapon. Unlike the Drip, this shot utilises a pure brushing motion to dip the ball safely into the kitchen, a technique favored by pros for its consistency.
The ultimate goal is seamless integration. “The real magic happens when you can switch between all three shots seamlessly,” the report notes, creating uncertainty that forces opponents to hesitate. By layering these shots—starting with the slice and graduating to topspin—players can effectively transform their game and secure a massive advantage in the race to 11.
Chilly Temperatures but Heated Matchups: Championship Sunday Set for PPA Indoor Nationals
Minneapolis, USA – While temperatures outside the venue plummet to freezing extremes, the competition heating up on the courts at the PPA Indoor National Championships promises a scorching conclusion to the week. With a “standing room only” crowd braving the cold, Championship Sunday is set to feature five high-stakes gold medal matches.
In the Men’s Singles final, Christopher Haworth looks to secure a “thriest of peach” (three-peat) against number one seed Hunter Johnson. Analysts predict Haworth’s current hot streak and firepower will be too much for Johnson to handle, despite Johnson’s top seeding. On the women’s side, a fierce battle of styles is expected between Parris Todd and Lea Jansen, with commentators giving the edge to Jansen’s reach and ferocity at the kitchen line.
The doubles courts will see new partnerships tested. In Mixed Doubles, the duo of Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin are favoured to triumph over Hurricane Tyra Black and Christian Alshon. While Alshon’s court coverage has been described as “ridiculous,” experts believe the complementary chemistry of Bright and Patriquin will secure them the gold.
The Men’s Doubles final follows a bizarre Saturday semifinal where Gabe Tardio and Andrei Daescu overcame medical timeouts and physical struggles to reach the main stage. They will face the high-octane pairing of Alshon and Patriquin in a match expected to go the full five games. Finally, in Women’s Doubles, the dominant team of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright are heavily favoured to take the title against Tyra Black and Parris Todd, continuing their reign of “taking frozen souls” from their competition.
Bronze medal matches will also take place throughout the day, featuring top talent like Kaitlyn Christian and Dylan Frazier fighting for a podium finish.
Veteran Presenter Tony Jones Laughs Off “Violent” Knee Injury Live at Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia – Channel Nine sports presenter Tony Jones gave viewers and colleagues a scare on Sunday morning after suffering a heavy fall during a live pickleball segment at the Australian Open. The veteran journalist, 64, was participating in an on-court demonstration with co-host John Millman when the accident occurred.
Footage showed Jones moving to his right to hit a forehand before losing his footing and crashing onto the blue hardcourt. The impact was severe enough to leave a visible white mark on the surface where his knee scraped the ground. The broadcast captured the immediate concern of his fellow presenters, with former tennis star John Millman exclaiming, “Oh s**t!” as Jones clutched his right knee in pain.
Co-host Casey Dellacqua rushed to assist Jones, who appeared unable to stand under his own power initially, prompting the network to cut abruptly to a commercial break. Despite the dramatic tumble, Jones returned to the broadcast desk shortly after, sporting a brave face. When colleague Jelena Dokic praised his “great effort,” Jones quipped that he was “getting some ice” and jokingly renounced the sport.
“No, not anymore I don’t,” Jones joked when asked if he liked pickleball. “It’s a violent, violent sport. Kids, if you’re watching, never play pickleball”. The incident sparked immediate reaction on social media, with fans and colleagues debating safety measures for presenters and predicting the clip would become a staple on Jones’s upcoming Sunday Footy Show blooper reels.
Pickleball Frenzy Sweeps Winnipeg as The Picklr Opens First Canadian Headquarters
Winnipeg, Canada – The massive growth of pickleball in North America reached a new milestone on Saturday as U.S.-based franchise The Picklr opened the doors to its first-ever Canadian location. Located in the Tuxedo Business Park, the new facility represents the first step in an aggressive national expansion planned by the company.
Demand for the indoor courts was immediate. General Manager Brent Bernas reported that the first 300 memberships sold out within a single hour during the presale phase, with total membership reaching approximately 400 by opening day. “By 7:05 a.m., the courts were full and people were batting it back and forth,” Bernas noted, describing a “mass frenzy” of booking activity as locals sought to escape the frigid Manitoba winter.
The facility boasts 10 regular courts and two specialised championship courts—the only ones of their kind in the province—signalling Winnipeg’s intent to host future tournaments. The location will serve as more than just a local club; it is designated as the national headquarters for The Picklr Canada. Staff for future franchises will travel to Winnipeg for instruction, a point of pride for Bernas: “Winnipeggers training the rest of Canada”.
The company plans to open 65 clubs across the country over the next five years, including a second Manitoba location in Brandon. For those curious about the sport, the club has announced a public grand opening event on January 31, offering free open play to the community.
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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