Welcome to your Friday - and you've made a good decision ahead of the weekend to check out today's PKLBulletin.
This is your final reminder that the World Pickleball Magazine launches on MONDAY and you will be able to buy your digital copy exclusively through the site here.
We're also building a programme that will encourage clubs to promote the magazine to their members in return for 'tokens' that they can then spend on pickleball equipment - that's right, if your players buy the magazine that means you might be able to turn your tokens into new balls or nets or anything else we have for you.
Anyway, Day 7 of the World Pickleball League in India threw up some surprising results - you can read my recap of the matches here.
And Joe James delved deeper into the news that pickleball.com has the lofty goal of becoming the ESPN of pickleball - an interesting position to put themselves in given the governing body in the US owns the website. Read all about that here.
On with the show now, and your daily dose of pickleball news.
Bollywood Stars Aamir Khan and Ali Fazal to Clash on Pickleball Court at the World Pickleball League
In a unique blend of sport and entertainment, Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ali Fazal are set to face off in a special exhibition pickleball match at the World Pickleball League (WPBL) on February 1st. The match, which promises to be a thrilling spectacle, will also feature two players from the league, adding to the excitement. The event marks a significant moment for pickleball, being the first non-cricket event hosted at the iconic CCI Brabourne Stadium in over 15 years.
Aamir Khan, known as Mr. Perfectionist, expressed his enthusiasm for the game, stating that “Sports, just like cinema, is a great unifier”. He also looks forward to playing alongside some of the world’s best pickleball players. Ali Fazal echoed the sentiment, highlighting the opportunity to play pickleball with Aamir, whom he's previously shared screen time with. He also congratulated the WPBL team for blending pickleball with entertainment, making it appealing to a wider audience.
Gaurav Natekar, Co-Founder and CEO of WPBL, expressed gratitude for Aamir's support of the league. The event is expected to be an interesting evening of pickleball and entertainment, further promoting the sport's growing popularity. This exhibition match will undoubtedly draw attention to pickleball.
Love on the Court: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Find Passion in Pickleball
Years after retiring from professional tennis, legendary couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are keeping their competitive spirits alive through pickleball. The pair have embraced the sport, participating in various Pickleball Slams and fundraisers, showcasing a new side of their athletic prowess. While Agassi has acknowledged that his top competitor, Andy Roddick, has a multitude of reasons to play, Agassi's reason is simple: "she's sitting right next to me".
The next Pickleball Slam on February 16th will feature Agassi teaming up with his wife, Graf, a decision that has created a playful rivalry with Roddick. In response to being "sidelined," Roddick jokingly remarked, "I guess that's what happens when you have a wife who is the best of all time as an option". Graf has also expressed her enjoyment of the sport, calling it "the best". Agassi has previously mentioned that pickleball is a fantastic exercise for him and his wife.
This display of love and friendly competition has captivated fans, highlighting the couple's enduring bond, and bringing additional attention to the sport.
Christian and Dalla-Bona Set to Battle for Women’s Singles Crown at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open
The Proton Australia Pickleball Open is set for a thrilling conclusion as Kaitlyn Christian and Somer Dalla-Bona prepare to face off in the women’s singles final. Christian, a former top-40 ranked WTA doubles player, has made a remarkable transition to pickleball, marking her third consecutive PPA tournament where she has reached the championship round in singles. Her path to the final included a hard-fought quarterfinal victory against Roos van Reek, where she came back from dropping the first game. She then dispatched 17-year-old Nicola Schoeman in straight games.
Dalla-Bona's journey to the final was equally impressive, with straight-game victories against Danni-Elle Townsend and Jessie Irvine, and a convincing semifinal win against her former teammate Andie Dikosavljevic. Dalla-Bona acknowledged the challenges of playing against a friend, but praised the level of competition.
The upcoming match on Sunday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibit Center is highly anticipated, as Dalla-Bona seeks her fifth career singles title, while Christian aims for her second PPA gold. The final promises an exciting display of skill and determination as these two athletes battle for the championship.
Tardio and McGuffin to Face Off in Men's Singles Final After Pizza-Fueled Run
The Proton Australia Pickleball Open is set for an exciting finale as Gabe Tardio and Tyson McGuffin, men’s doubles partners, will clash in the men’s singles final. This matchup follows impressive runs from both players, with 19-year-old Tardio making his first career singles final on the PPA Tour. Tardio's journey included a notable victory over fellow teenager Quang Duong, a performance he attributed to being inspired by watching Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. He even admitted that he doesn't usually play like he did during that match. Adding to the unusual circumstances of his run to the final, Tardio nearly missed his first match because he didn’t hear the call, and was seen eating a slice of Nutella pizza just before stepping onto the court. He claims that pizza gives him "good energy."
McGuffin, the top seed, had a more challenging path to the final. He appeared to injure his hip in his first match but still managed to defeat Australian stars Lucas Pascoe and Mitchell Hargreaves, and overcame a challenge from Phuc Huynh in the semifinals. The 35-year-old is aiming for his first singles title since 2023.
The final match on Sunday promises a compelling contest, with Tardio's youthful energy facing off against McGuffin's experience. Both players will be looking to add a singles title to their resumes, creating an eagerly awaited conclusion to the tournament.
Collegiate Pickleball Tour Serves Up $100,000 in Prize Money for Young Athletes
The newly launched Collegiate Pickleball Tour is set to make a significant impact on the sport by offering over $100,000 in prize money to participating athletes and their teams. This joint venture between the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) and the United Pickleball Association (UPA) is designed to fuel the growth of pickleball on campuses across the country. The substantial financial incentive will not only attract more college athletes to the sport but also help sustain and expand pickleball programs at universities.
The tour's competitive calendar includes 30 Campus Regionals and eight Super Regionals, leading to the Collegiate National Championship in Atlanta in the spring and the Collegiate World Championship in Dallas in the fall. The champions and runners-up of the Collegiate National Championships will also earn the chance to compete against top professionals at the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, MI. In addition to these events, 10 Collegiate Showcases will take place at Carvana PPA Tour events.
This expansion builds on the remarkable success of DUPR Collegiate Pickleball, which has seen a surge in participation, from 17 schools and 151 players in 2022 to 125 schools and over 4,000 players by 2024. The Collegiate Pickleball Tour is poised to further elevate the sport, providing more opportunities for college athletes to compete at the highest levels and showcase their talent.
Scottish Nationals Pickleball Tournament Gears Up for 2025 with Entries Opening Soon
The 2025 Scottish Nationals pickleball tournament is generating excitement as entries are set to open on February 2nd. The event, scheduled from May 29th to June 1st, is open to members of Pickleball Scotland who meet specific eligibility criteria, including being born or living in Scotland, having Scottish parents, or not having participated in another country’s national championships in the past year. This second iteration of the tournament will be held at the Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow, a move to accommodate a larger number of participants and enhance the overall experience.
The tournament will feature a range of open categories, catering to diverse skill levels and age groups, including wheelchair doubles, masters doubles, and youth singles and doubles. Mhairi Adam, the chair of Pickleball Scotland, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the event, highlighting the larger venue and encouraging early registration due to the expectation of quick sell-out.
The Scottish Nationals is a significant event for the growth of pickleball in Scotland, offering a competitive platform for local players and promoting the sport's increasing popularity. The event demonstrates the continued expansion of pickleball in the UK and offers a chance to celebrate the talent within the Scottish pickleball community.
Indian Open 2025: Pickleball's Premier Asian Showcase Set to Begin in Mumbai with $125,000 Prize Pool and Bollywood Star Brand Ambassador
The Indian Open 2025 is poised to be a landmark event for pickleball in Asia, taking place in Mumbai from February 3rd to 9th, with a substantial prize pool of USD 125,000. This prestigious tournament, organized by Global Sports, is set to feature over 1,200 players competing across 25 courts at NESCO Goregaon. The event is not only a major competition, but also an effort to promote pickleball’s growth throughout India, with support from key figures such as Bollywood writer-director Shashank Khaitan and entrepreneur Yuvi Ruia.
Adding to the excitement, celebrated filmmaker and pop culture icon Karan Johar will serve as the brand ambassador for the tournament, bringing star power and further attention to the sport. The tournament will also introduce the inaugural Pickleball Pro and Challenger League, featuring ten city-based teams. These teams include the Mumbai Chhatrapati Warriors led by Janhvi Kapoor, Ahmedabad Olympians, Bengaluru Blazers, and Chennai Cool Cats, among others, fostering city pride and team spirit.
The Indian Open 2025 is expected to be a significant milestone in the development of pickleball in Asia. With its large-scale participation, high prize money, and the involvement of celebrity ambassadors, the tournament is set to attract both local and international attention, paving the way for pickleball's bright future in India and beyond.
Tennis Legend Irina Tereschenko Coaches Pickleball at Fresno State, Team Heads to Regional Tournament
Five-time Grand Slam Champion and Major League Pickleball GOAT, Irina Tereschenko, has joined Fresno State as their pickleball coach, marking a significant step for the university's growing program. The program was initially proposed by a student, Nicholas Wise, in 2023, who collaborated with the Head Women's Tennis Coach Denise Dy, to create the Bulldog Pickleball club. Tereschenko's addition to the team in 2024 has helped to elevate the club's profile and performance.
With the goal of joining the DUPR collegiate tour, Bulldog Pickleball has been actively fundraising and engaging with the community, hosting events like a $1000 Moneyball tournament that drew over 300 players. The club quickly grew to over 150 members and formed a travel team of 12 players who were selected after a series of tryouts. Tereschenko has trained the team, and they have now participated in their first event, the DUPR Collegiate Las Vegas Super Regional. The team secured a bid to the DUPR Collegiate Nationals.
This spring, Bulldog Pickleball is preparing for a productive semester, with more community events planned. The team is also looking to expand its roster as they head to the DUPR Georgia Collegiate Regional on February 1st. The success of the Bulldog Pickleball program highlights the growing popularity of collegiate pickleball. The club is committed to attracting and retaining members by hosting social events and tournaments and also by providing mentorship opportunities for players in the local community.
PPR Standardizes Coach-Assigned DUPR Ratings Worldwide, Aiming to Rate Millions of Players
The Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) is set to standardize the Coach-Assigned DUPR Rating Program for its network of over 10,000 certified coaches, in partnership with the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) and MyJourney Pickleball. This initiative aims to provide DUPR ratings to the 34 million currently unrated pickleball players worldwide, creating new revenue opportunities for coaches and clubs while driving growth in the sport.
PPR-certified coaches will be able to generate DUPR ratings through the DUPR Coach app, either virtually or by conducting DUPR Rating Sessions at local clubs and courts. According to Sarah Ansboury, Managing Director of PPR, this program provides coaches with two revenue streams: being featured on The Global Pickleball Coach Map and conducting DUPR Rating Sessions. Zach Lee, a PPR-certified DUPR coach, notes that this program has elevated the quality of play at his club while generating additional revenue.
This standardization will ensure that players are accurately rated and matched to appropriate skill levels, while also creating new revenue streams for coaches and clubs. Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, believes this partnership will make universal ratings more accessible, providing a clear starting point and pathway for improvement for all players. PPR-certified coaches will receive training on the Coach-Assigned DUPR process, along with access to DUPR-approved skills rating tools. This move by PPR is setting a new global standard for pickleball ratings, competition, and player development.
USA Pickleball Serves Awards Grants to Boost the Game, Impacting Over 192,000 Individuals
And finally, USA Pickleball Serves, the charitable arm of USA Pickleball (USAP), has announced the recipients of its inaugural “Grow the Game” grant program, awarding pickleball equipment and resources to 51 community organizations and schools across the United States. This initiative is expected to positively impact an estimated 192,286 individuals, furthering USAP’s goal of making the sport more accessible nationwide. The grants aim to support the expansion of pickleball by providing essential tools and resources to groups that are working to establish or maintain programs in their communities.
The grant recipients, located in 27 states, include five colleges and universities, who will each receive a Franklin pickleball equipment bundle tailored to their specific needs, as well as educational resources through a Youth Pickleball Provider (YPP) membership. The YPP subscription includes a playbook, activity cards, instructional videos, lesson plans, and discounted equipment, along with a direct connection to a local USA Pickleball Ambassador.
This first round of grant awards represents a significant step in promoting pickleball's growth across the nation. The program is also designed to support inclusive play, educational youth programming, and court enhancements. A second round of applications for the "Grow the Game" grant will open on July 8, 2025, and organizations not selected in this round are encouraged to reapply. The program ensures that groups are supported in their efforts to introduce and expand access to the sport.