Good morning, pickleballers!
It is the first proper Monday of the New Year – yikes.
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.
Crown Under Siege: Johns Retains Top Spot as Patriquin and Daescu Close the Gap in 2025 Rankings
Salt Lake City, USA – As the 2025 pickleball season concludes, the PPA Tour has released its final men’s player rankings, revealing a competitive landscape that is rapidly shifting beneath the feet of the sport’s long-standing king. While Ben Johns manages to hold onto the No. 1 position, analysts note that the gap between him and the field has narrowed significantly, with 2026 poised to be a pivotal year for the sport’s hierarchy.
Johns’ grasp on the throne appeared looser this year; he secured zero triple crowns and nearly fell out of the top 10 in singles competition. However, his doubles partnership with Gabe Tardio provided a necessary spark, and his mixed doubles dominance alongside Anna Leigh Waters remained a firewall against total usurpation. Nipping at his heels is the electrifying Hayden Patriquin, who has been named the No. 2 player. Despite struggles with consistency, experts argue Patriquin’s ceiling is currently the highest on the planet, making him the most likely candidate to dethrone Johns in the coming season.
Rounding out the top tier is Andrei Daescu at No. 3, praised for his consistency and backhand prowess, followed by Gabe Tardio at No. 4, whose stock has risen sharply due to his mixed doubles performances. The top 10 also welcomes fresh blood, including “most improved” Eric Oncins at No. 9 and the highly anticipated Will Howells at No. 10, who has successfully transitioned from dominating the minor leagues to challenging the world’s best. With rising teenage talent like 17-year-old Will MacKinnon predicted to break out in 2026, the new year promises a fierce battle for supremacy.
Cultural Fusion: World Pickleball Championship Masters Kicks Off with Global Fanfare in Hainan
Hainan, China – The World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Masters officially began this morning, transforming the Ramsports Stadium into a vibrant hub of international diplomacy and athletic competition. The Opening Ceremony set a high-energy tone for the tournament, emphasising themes of global unity and cross-cultural connection.
Distinguished representatives from the Hainan local government stood alongside athletes from across the globe to inaugurate the event. Organisers highlighted that the ceremony was more than just a formality; it was designed to capture the “global spirit” of the WPC, bringing together diverse players to celebrate the rapid expansion of the sport in Asia.
Snapshots from the event reveal a colorful mix of local traditions and modern sportsmanship, marking a significant milestone for pickleball in the region. As the matches commence, the WPC Masters Hainan aims to showcase not only high-level play but also the unifying power of pickleball on the international stage.
History in Tokyo: Japan Pickleball Association Unveils Inaugural National Rankings
Tokyo, Japan – In a landmark moment for the sport in Asia, the Japan Pickleball Association (JPA) has officially released its first-ever national rankings, dated January 2026. This initiative marks a major step toward professionalising the sport in Japan, offering a formalised system to track and visualize player performance across the country.
The new ranking system aggregates points based on results from officially authorized tournaments, providing a clear hierarchy for competitors for the first time. The initial release covers a wide array of categories, including Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles across 19+, 35+, and 50+ age brackets. While some categories, such as Women’s Singles 35+, are currently withheld due to a lack of match data, and Mixed Doubles 35+ is still being tallied, the structure lays a solid foundation for the future.
JPA officials expressed that this transparency is intended to boost competition and engagement within the domestic pickleball community. “This ranking is an initiative aimed at… visualizing the performance of competitions in Japan,” the association stated, encouraging fans to keep a close watch on future results as the 2026 season heats up.
Aussie Ace: Simone Kessell Renews Vows with JOOLA After Championship Season
Brisbane, Australia – Following a dominant 2025 season that saw her claim multiple titles, Australian pickleball star Simone Kessell has officially renewed her contract as an ambassador for JOOLA Australia for 2026. The announcement, made on January 4, solidifies the partnership between the premier equipment manufacturer and one of the region’s most accomplished athletes.
Kessell, who is also known for her work as a television actress in New Zealand, proved to be a force of nature on the court last year. She led the Brisbane Breakers to victory at the Major League Pickleball Australia (MLPA) Masters and followed up with a Division 2 title win playing for the Dinkers. Her individual accolades were equally impressive, including a gold medal in women’s singles (35+ 4.0) at the Australian Pickleball Championships and finishing the year with the top global senior DUPR ranking in women’s singles.
JOOLA Australia praised Kessell as “Consistent, competitive, and proven at the highest level,” citing her remarkable achievements across both domestic leagues and international rankings as key drivers for the renewal. As 2026 begins, Kessell remains a central figure in Australian pickleball, representing both her team and her sponsor with championship pedigree.
Richmond Ready: USLPL 35+ Professional League Set to Launch with High-Stakes Combine
Richmond, USA – The landscape of professional pickleball is expanding once again with the imminent launch of the USLPL 35+ Professional Pickleball League. With the official season kickoff just days away, the league has issued a “last call” for athletes hoping to secure a spot on a roster through the upcoming Combine event.
Scheduled for January 16–18, the Combine will take place at RVA Pickleball in Richmond, a venue that successfully hosted the league’s 50+ Combine in 2025. Organisers are banking on the venue’s proven track record to deliver another high-quality selection event for this new division.
The creation of a dedicated 35+ professional league addresses a growing demographic of highly skilled players who bridge the gap between open divisions and senior pro tours. As the countdown to the season opener drops to under two weeks, anticipation is building to see which “legends” will emerge from the Richmond trials to headline the inaugural season of the USLPL.
Tsu City Selected to Host Historic Inaugural APP Japan Tournament
Tsu City, Japan – The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) is taking a major leap into the Asian market with the announcement of the first-ever APP Japan Tournament. Scheduled to take place in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, this historic event will run from February 26 through March 1, 2026.
The tournament represents a significant collaboration involving the Global Pickleball Association and the “APP Family,” signalling a serious commitment to international tour expansion. While specific format details and player brackets are still being finalised, organizers have promised that more information will be released shortly.
By planting its flag in Tsu City, the APP aims to tap into Japan’s burgeoning pickleball community, offering a professional platform for local talent to shine alongside visiting international pros. The event, tagged with #APPFamily and #GlobalPickleballAssociation, is expected to draw significant attention as the first of its kind in the region.
Paddle Wars 2026: Anna Leigh Waters Leaves Paddletek as Pros Scramble for New Deals
Rancho Mirage, USA – As the world’s best players descend on California for the first tournament of the year, the “Paddle Wars” have officially begun, headlined by a shocking free agency move from the sport’s undisputed queen, Anna Leigh Waters. Reports confirm that Waters has been removed from the Paddletek website, signalling the end of her long-standing partnership and sparking intense speculation about her next move.
While Waters has yet to make a public statement, rumours suggest industry giants Franklin and JOOLA are the frontrunners to sign the pickleball superstar in what would likely be a record-breaking deal. This seismic shift at the top is just one of several major equipment changes shaking up the pro tour in 2026.
Notable movements include Gabe Tardio ending his run with PIKKL, and Dekel Bar departing JOOLA to sign with 11SIX24. Additionally, Eric Oncins has moved to Engage, while the duo of Thomas Wilson and Vivienne David have parted ways with CRBN. As players prepare for the Carvana PPA Masters in Rancho Mirage from January 12-18, fans will be watching closely to see which new paddles are in the hands of their favorite pros.
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.