What’s the Score?
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria – The 2025 RTA Pickleball Tour came to a dramatic conclusion amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps. In a showcase of the continent’s deepening talent pool, the season finale crowned a diverse slate of champions from across Europe. Hungary’s Balint Bako justified his top seeding by capturing the Men’s Singles gold, while the Swedish twins, Alma and Klara Thell-Lenntorp, proved untouchable in Women’s Doubles. The event also saw gold medals awarded to the French-British pairing of Théo Platel and Ben Cawston in Men’s Doubles, Germany’s Caroline Nothnagel in Women’s Singles, and the Spanish duo of Claudia Caymel and Pep Canyadell in Mixed Doubles.
Hit it deeper!
The RTA European Finals in St. Anton am Arlberg served as the definitive testing ground for the continent’s best players, and the results highlighted the international growth of the sport.
In the Men’s Singles division, all eyes were on Hungary’s Balint Bako. Entering the tournament as the number one seed for the 2025 season, Bako carried the weight of expectation and delivered a masterclass performance. He capped off his year with the gold medal, proving his dominance one last time before the calendar turns. Bako’s influence on the tournament wasn’t limited to singles; he also secured a bronze medal in Men’s Doubles alongside Spanish partner Ignasi de Rueda. Their run to the podium ended on a spectacular note, with Bako executing an “incredible baseline tweener” to win the final point of the match—a highlight-reel shot that had the crowd buzzing about a potential permanent partnership for 2026.
On the women’s side, Germany’s Caroline Nothnagel stood tall atop the podium as the Women’s Singles European Champion, adding another major title to the German trophy case. In doubles action, the chemistry of the Thell-Lenntorp twins, Alma and Klara, was undeniable. The Swedish sisters outmanoeuvred their competition to claim the title of 2025 RTA Women’s Doubles European Champions.
The Men’s Doubles bracket featured a cross-channel alliance that proved golden, as France’s Théo Platel and Great Britain’s Ben Cawston combined forces to take the top spot. Meanwhile, in Mixed Doubles, Spain asserted its prowess with Claudia Caymel and Pep Canyadell lifting the trophy. The podiums were rounded out by strong performances from Maria Costantino, who earned bronze medals in both doubles (with Thaddea Lock) and mixed doubles (with Mauro Garcia), marking a highly successful multi-medal weekend for her.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The results from St. Anton am Arlberg signal a shift in the European pickleball landscape: parity is arriving. While earlier years of the sport often saw dominance by one or two nations, the 2025 RTA Finals distributed gold across Hungary, Sweden, France, Great Britain, Germany, and Spain.
Balint Bako’s ability to handle the pressure of the #1 seed suggests he is ready to be the face of European men’s singles, while the “highlight reel” nature of his play—specifically the baseline tweener—shows that the European game is evolving in flair as well as fundamentals. As the tour heads into the off-season, the question on everyone’s mind regarding Bako and de Rueda is, “Are we going to see these two team up more in 2026?”. If the chemistry in Austria was any indication, the rest of the tour should be on high alert.
Chris 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 all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.