Quang Duong Joins Sypik in Landmark Vietnamese Paddle Deal
What's the Score?
Nineteen-year-old Quang Duong, currently ranked seventh in men's singles on the PPA Tour, has signed a sponsorship deal with Vietnamese paddle brand Sypik. The move follows Duong's announcement that he was parting ways with his previous sponsor, Selkirk. Sypik described the signing as a "historic handshake" affirming Vietnamese class on the world pickleball map and bringing Vietnamese aspirations globally. This switch is part of a broader trend of players changing paddle sponsors, with Tina Pisnik and Dylan Frazier also announcing new deals this week.
Hit it deeper!
A significant development in the world of professional pickleball sponsorships is the recent signing of 19-year-old Vietnamese-American player Quang Duong with Sypik, a paddle brand based in Vietnam. Duong, who holds an impressive seventh-place ranking in men's singles on the PPA Tour, confirmed the move shortly after announcing his departure from his former paddle sponsor, Selkirk. Duong expressed gratitude to Selkirk for their support over the previous two years, noting how he was able to represent the brand "around the world," listing locations such as the USA, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Ha Long Bay, and Mumbai, among other Asian countries. He added a message advocating for the continued global growth of pickleball.
Sypik officially welcomed Duong to their roster on Thursday, following his Wednesday announcement about leaving Selkirk. The company shared their excitement about adding the "uber-talented" Duong to their team. Sypik celebrated the signing as a momentous occasion, calling it a "historic handshake between a world-class Vietnamese athlete and a rising Vietnamese paddle brand shaking the global stage". The brand emphasised the sense of "Vietnamese pride" associated with Vietnamese individuals demonstrating their skill and standing on the international pickleball circuit. Their statement highlighted their ambition to reach an international level and carry "Vietnamese aspirations to the world".
Quang Duong's signing with Sypik is one of several notable player movements in the pickleball sponsorship landscape this week. The sources also report that Tina Pisnik has transitioned from being sponsored by ProXR to partnering with Warping Point. Warping Point expressed their enthusiasm about adding Pisnik, highlighting her "elite experience and passion for the game" and stating that she joins them "as we take Warping Point to next dimension," with the aim to "reshape the future of pickleball together". Another prominent player, Dylan Frazier, also announced a change, leaving Selkirk to sign with Volair. Volair described Frazier as "one of the top players in the world" and emphasised that his role extends beyond just playing. They stated that Frazier will be deeply involved in the development process, "testing and shaping the next generation of pro-level paddles," adding that they are "beyond hyped to have him in the lab and on the court" with them. These simultaneous announcements suggest a dynamic market for paddle sponsorships, with players and brands seeking partnerships that align with their goals.
The significance of Duong, a top-ranked PPA singles player, signing with a Vietnamese brand like Sypik also speaks to the growing global presence of pickleball, particularly in Asia. A separate source listing related articles notes that "Quang Duong Signs with Sypik" is viewed as "Marking a Milestone for Vietnamese Pickleball". Another source covering the Sypik Master All-Stars Exchange in Ha Long mentions the participation of the "legendary Quang Duong Brothers and Bao Duong," describing them as top tennis stars who have become "beloved figures in Vietnam's pickleball community". This context further underscores Quang Duong's status and connection to the Vietnamese pickleball scene, making his partnership with Sypik a natural fit to promote the sport and the brand in the region and globally.
The World Pickleball Verdict
Quang Duong's decision to partner with Vietnamese brand Sypik after leaving a major established brand like Selkirk is a significant statement that resonates beyond just a standard sponsorship deal. It underscores the increasing prominence of Asian markets and brands within the global pickleball ecosystem. For Sypik, securing a top-10 PPA singles player like Duong provides immediate credibility and a powerful ambassador to promote their products and the sport, particularly in Vietnam and across Asia, aligning with their stated goal of bringing "Vietnamese aspirations to the world". For Duong, whose heritage links him closely to Vietnam and who has actively promoted pickleball in Asian countries, this partnership represents an opportunity to align with a brand that explicitly ties into national pride and the growth of the sport in his ancestral region. The simultaneous announcements of other high-profile player-paddle switches highlight the dynamic nature of the sponsorship market and suggest that players are finding opportunities with a diverse range of brands, some of which may be offering roles that extend to product development, as indicated by Dylan Frazier's move to Volair. Overall, Duong's signing is a clear indicator of pickleball's expanding global footprint and the increasing importance of regional markets and brands on the professional circuit.