Good morning, pickleballers!
Friday is here once again – I, for one, will be getting on court later today to start my weekend early.
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.
Teen Prodigy Shocks World No. 2 as PPA Indoor Nationals Deliver Major Upsets
Lakeville, USA – The PPA Pickleball Central Indoor National Championships at Life Time Lakeville erupted in chaos this week as the established order of professional pickleball was upended by a teenage sensation. In a stunning Round of 16 clash that has sent shockwaves through the bracket, 14-year-old Camden Chaffin defeated World No. 2 Federico Staksrud, proving that the next generation of talent has officially arrived.
The match began with Staksrud asserting his dominance, controlling the tempo to take the opening game 11-4. However, the young Chaffin refused to fold. Displaying composure well beyond his years, he flipped the momentum to take the second game 11-4, forcing a decisive third game. In a tense finale where the teenager admitted to feeling the pressure, Chaffin held his nerve to edge out the pickleball giant 11-8. “Honestly, like during time out and afterwards I was like Holy crap… that was too tight,” Chaffin said, noting he focused simply on keeping the ball down.
Chaffin wasn’t the only underdog to bite back; No. 14 seed Cason Campbell also staged a significant upset, taking down the No. 3 seed Christian Alshon in a gritty 2-1 victory to book his own spot in the quarterfinals.
As the tournament moves to the quarterfinals on January 23, the slate is set for high-stakes action on the Carvana Grandstand and Humana Championship Courts. Chaffin will look to continue his Cinderella run against No. 5 seed Christopher Haworth. Other marquee matchups include top seed Kaitlyn Christian facing Lingwei Kong in women’s singles, and a mixed doubles showdown featuring Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters’ partners—Catherine Parenteau and Federico Tardio—against Pisnik and Khlif. With livestreaming available on PickleballTV, all eyes are now on Lakeville to see if the underdogs can maintain their momentum toward championship weekend.
Legends of the Court: 2026 Humana Cup Announces Nationwide Tour for Senior Pros
Fort Lauderdale, USA – The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and Humana Inc. have officially unveiled the roadmap for the 2026 Humana Cup, continuing their commitment to showcasing the sport’s most experienced elite competitors. Entering its third full season, this unique team-format competition is designed exclusively for professional players aged 50 and older, divided into Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) divisions.
The 2026 season promises to be a gruelling test of endurance and skill, spanning seven major APP Tour events across the United States. The tour kicks off in the Pacific Northwest with the AARP Open in Seattle from March 26-29, before moving to key markets including Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, and Louisville. The season will culminate in a high-stakes finale at the APP’s global headquarters, “The Fort” in Fort Lauderdale, from December 3-6, where the overall team champions will be crowned.
“We are thrilled to bring another season of Humana Cup to the APP’s competitive landscape,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann, emphasising the excitement of showcasing players who have shaped pickleball history. The competition will feature six teams in each division, comprised of over 150 players battling in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles round-robin formats at each stop.
Angela Dean, Humana’s Director of Brand Sponsorships, highlighted the alignment between the event and healthy ageing. “Pickleball brings people together – fostering movement, connection and joy,” Dean stated, noting the company’s excitement to welcome players to their corporate hometown of Louisville later in the fall. With team captains set to draft their squads in the coming weeks, the stage is set for a year-long battle of experience and strategy.
Chennai Braces for Impact: PRC Battleground 2026 Draws Top Indian Talent
Chennai, India – The coastal city of Chennai is set to become the epicentre of Indian pickleball this week as the PRC Battleground 2026 gets underway at Prasad’s Recreational Centre. Running from January 23 to 26, this high-octane tournament is sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) and carries the weight of a PWR 200 event, offering crucial ranking points for domestic competitors.
The event has generated significant buzz, drawing 126 registered players across various categories, a testament to the sport’s exploding popularity in the region. The tournament structure is comprehensive, catering to a wide spectrum of skill levels ranging from Intermediate Singles and Doubles to the highly competitive Pro and Open Advanced categories.
Several marquee names are set to grace the courts, raising the stakes for the podium. Dubai-based professional Sujit Mani brings international flair to the draw, while local eyes will be fixed on Anish Venkatesh, who enters the tournament fresh off a notable doubles victory against Megan Fudge. Another contender to watch is Boopathy Sakthivel, who recently secured a semifinal finish at the Mumbai Open, marking him as a serious threat in the advanced divisions.
As the official governing body, the IPA views events like the PRC Battleground as vital for the sport’s ecosystem. By implementing the Pickleball World Ranking (PWR) system—which spans all age groups and formats—the tournament serves as a critical filter for identifying top talent for future district, state, and national team selections. With competitive brackets averaging 20 teams per category, the next four days in Chennai promise intense rivalries and high-calibre athletic performances.
Power Brokers Revealed: The Kitchen Unveils the 50 Most Influential Figures in Pickleball
Austin, USA – As pickleball transitions from a pandemic-era boom to a permanent fixture in the global sports landscape, industry leader The Kitchen has released its definitive “Pickleball Power 50” list for 2026. This comprehensive ranking identifies the movers and shakers—investors, CEOs, players, and media moguls—who are architecting the future of the sport.
The ranking methodology was rigorous, evaluating candidates on six key metrics: reach, authenticity, existing growth contributions, relationships, revenue generation, and their ability to drive the sport toward future milestones like the Olympics. The resulting list highlights a diverse mix of on-court talent and backroom operators.
High on the list are the administrators governing the professional game. Samin Odhwani, Commissioner of Major League Pickleball (MLP), ranked 12th for his role in overseeing league integrity and evolution, closely followed by DUPR CEO Gilberto Machado, whose data-driven rating system has become the global standard. The list also acknowledges the commercial powerhouses, such as Ryan Harwood (No. 19), who manages superstar Anna Leigh Waters and the New Jersey 5s, and key investors like Al Tylis and Jason Stein, who are shaping the governance of the United Pickleball Association.
Top athletes also wield significant power. Anna Bright (No. 26) is recognised not just for her No. 2 world ranking, but for her outspoken voice in player discourse. Meanwhile, content creators like Chris Olson of Pickleball Studio (No. 28) demonstrate the influence of media on consumer behaviour and equipment adoption. From paddle innovators like Garrett Gosselin to facility moguls like Bahram Akradi of Life Time, the Power 50 underscores that influence in modern pickleball is as much about business acumen as it is about athletic prowess.
Star Power and Strategy: WPBL Season 2 Kicks Off with Celebrity Showdown and Global Talent
Mumbai, India – The World Pickleball League (WPBL) is poised for a blockbuster second season, blending Bollywood glamour with elite international athleticism. The action begins on January 24 at the Jio World Garden in Mumbai with the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown, a fan-centric event where team owners, including Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Atlee, and Riteish Deshmukh, will take to the court alongside their players.
“I am excited to play against our team owners… to kickstart Season 2 of India’s No. 1 pickleball league,” said Gaurav Natekar, Founder and CEO of WPBL, promising an electric atmosphere for fans. This curtain-raiser sets the stage for the official league competition starting January 27, which will feature 56 players from 18 nations competing over 13 days.
In a major coup for the league’s competitive integrity, the Hyderabad Superstars have signed English pro Louis Laville, one of the most decorated players in the European game. Laville, a six-time English National Champion with over 79 professional gold medals, previously led Pune United to the finals in Season 1, finishing as the league’s highest-scoring male player.
Laville’s move signals Hyderabad’s championship intent. “The WPBL is one of the most competitive and well-run leagues I have played in,” Laville remarked, citing the intensity and quality of the player pool. Known for his tactical brilliance and fast hands at the net, Laville joins a roster aiming to improve upon last year’s semifinal finish. With the convergence of celebrity ownership and world-class talent like Laville, WPBL Season 2 is shaping up to be a landmark event for the sport in Asia.
Embrace the Chaos: Why Underdogs Should Abandon the Dinking Game
Rancho Mirage, USA – In the world of professional pickleball, conventional wisdom often dictates patience at the kitchen line. However, a recent match at the PPA Masters has sparked a conversation about a radical strategy for underdogs: abandoning the dink in favour of pure aggression.
The theory was put to the test when first-time partners Zane Navratil and Blaine Hovenier faced the formidable top-seeded duo of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio in the Round of 16. Facing a team with superior technical skills in the soft game, Navratil realised that trying to out-dink the best in the world was a fool’s errand. “There’s a zero-percent chance we do that,” Navratil admitted on The Dink’s PicklePod.
Instead, the pair adopted a high-risk strategy centred on speeding up the ball 100% of the time. Navratil’s “Zane Math” posits that while aggressive speed-ups might only work 40% of the time, attempting to sustain a dinking rally against a superior team yields a win rate of only roughly 20%. By injecting chaos and unpredictability into the match, the underdog attempts to “even out the odds” by removing the skill gap inherent in long, technical rallies.
“You want as much randomness as possible,” the article suggests, advising players to get “messy” to tip the scales. While Navratil and Hovenier ultimately lost to the eventual gold medalists, their approach offers a valuable blueprint for amateur players: when outmatched by a superior team, refusing to play their game and embracing aggressive unpredictability may be the only path to victory.
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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