Anna Leigh Waters Breaks Record as Global Pickleball Scene Booms

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Global Pickleball Giants Clash in Dallas as Waters Breaks Record at Jenius Bank World Championships 🏆

Dallas, USA – The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships at Brookhaven Country Club has delivered high-octane quarterfinal action and historic milestones, underscoring the event's status as the biggest tournament of the year. The championships also celebrated the PPA Tour Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe’s 100th tournament.

The tournament saw top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright advance to the women’s doubles semifinals after being pushed to three games (11-2, 5-11, 11-1) by No. 9 seeds Tina Pisnik/Kate Fahey. Waters and Bright, who are seeking their third consecutive title together, managed to reset after dropping the second game, citing a renewed sense of focus. They will next face Jorja Johnson/Tyra Black, hoping to avenge a loss from earlier this season.

In men’s doubles, top seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio also required three games, dropping the first before securing an 11-5, 11-2 comeback victory over No. 6 seeds Riley Newman/Jay Devilliers. Johns noted that beating Newman and Devilliers required consistent points and careful defence against their aggressive net play. Johns/Tardio now prepare for a semifinal against No. 3 seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin. Staksrud and Patriquin, who recently switched their side positioning (Patriquin now on the left), earned their quarterfinal spot with a tight 12-10, 12-10 win over Jonathan Truong/Jaume Martinez Vich.

Staksrud also excelled in men's singles, winning a three-game battle against No. 5 seed Jaume Martinez Vich. He stated that playing Worlds brings out extra emotion, emphasising that the whole season builds to this moment. He will face Connor Garnett in the semifinals for the third time this year.

Off the court, the 18-year-old superstar Anna Leigh Waters surpassed Ben Johns by claiming her 168th career gold medal, officially becoming the winningest player in PPA Tour history.

Adding to the tournament’s global flavour, India's Dev Shah secured the bronze medal in the Under 50 Men's Singles Skill (5.0) category, defeating Daniel Phillips in a three-game thriller (11–9, 0–11, 11–7). This event showcased pickleball’s expanding international reach, with participation from 34 countries; international representation has risen from 1% last year to 5% this year.

London Smash Goes 'All-In' for C4 Title with Historic Free Agent Signing 💥

London, Canada – The London Smash is setting an aggressive pace for the C4 season, announcing the signing of Anne-Sophie Courteau as the first-ever free agent acquisition in Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) history. This groundbreaking move signals the London Smash’s unequivocal intention to chase the C4 championship.

Courteau, a dynamic and versatile competitor, joins a potent roster that already features the re-signed duo of Ryan Torresin and Jessica Kawamoto, widely known as the "deadliest mixed team in CNPL history".

Smash owner Ed Sater expressed immense enthusiasm for the acquisition, calling Courteau a "game-changer". Sater praised her attributes—her skill, her competitiveness, and her ability to elevate everyone around her—making the signing a "no-brainer" for the franchise. Sater affirmed, "We’re not just building a roster, we’re building a championship team, and she’s a cornerstone of that vision".

Courteau’s arrival significantly strengthens the team, as she brings critical assets such as quick hands, fearless net play, and a proven track record of performing under pressure. Her skill set immediately creates one of the most formidable women’s lineups in the league and promises exciting new matchup possibilities across all formats. With Torresin, Kawamoto, and now Courteau locked in, the London Smash has sent a clear message: the C4 season is championship or bust.

CNPL Announces 2026 Draft Qualification Path with Events Across Canada 🇨🇦

Toronto, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) has outlined the official path for players aspiring to reach the professional ranks, announcing multiple qualification events for the 2026 CNPL Draft, scheduled for January 27, 2026.

These upcoming qualifiers, part of the "Dink Minor League Canada" initiative, offer players nationwide opportunities to earn draft eligibility. Registration is currently active for all listed events.

Upcoming qualifier tournaments include stops across the country: 💡 Burnaby, BC: November 8, 2025, for the DUPR 20 division. 💡 Cole Harbour, NS: December 6, 2025, for the DUPR 22 division. 💡 Saskatoon, SK: December 6-7, 2025, for the DUPR 20 division. 💡 London, ON: December 13, 2025, where participation in ANY DUPR division qualifies players. 💡 Kirkland, QC: December 13, 2025, for the DUPR 20 division.

Eligibility for the 2026 CNPL Draft can be secured in several ways: automatically qualifying if the player was on a CNPL, MLP (US or Australia), or NPL (Australia) roster during the 2025 season, or by competing in one of the official Dink Minor League Canada events at the DUPR 20 or DUPR 22 level. Competing in a CNPL team-hosted qualifier in 2025 also grants eligibility.

The draft will feature five rounds involving eight teams: Pronghorns, Drive, Owls, Smash, Brewers, Lights, United, and Lions. International players must select their category (born Canadian, landed Canadian, permit holder, or non-Canadian) and must establish visa status before September 1, 2025.

Defending CNPL Champions Montreal Lions Secure #1 Pick Christina Chin in Response to Free Agency Loss 🦁

Montreal, Canada – Shortly after losing star Anne-Sophie Courteau in free agency to the London Smash, the defending Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) champions, the Montreal Lions, delivered a sharp retort by signing Christina Chin. This major acquisition bolsters the Lions’ quest for a potential threepeat during the upcoming C4 season.

Chin, who was the #1 overall pick in the previous season, now joins team captain Ernesto Fajardo, also a former #1 overall selection, instantly forming an "elite tandem" at the core of the Montreal roster. The move is viewed not merely as replacing the departing Courteau, but as actively elevating the Lions’ championship window with a proven competitor adept at high-pressure situations.

Captain Fajardo emphasised Chin's quality, asserting that she is "one of the best in the game". He praised her experience, skill set, and winning mentality, declaring her the "perfect fit" for Montreal’s culture. Fajardo made it clear, "We didn’t just replace a piece, we added a game-changer".

Chin is celebrated for her exceptional court coverage and tactical intelligence. Paired with Fajardo and Louis-Charles Amyot, the Lions continue to boast one of the most formidable cores in the CNPL. With two #1 overall picks anchoring the team, the message emanating from Montreal is unambiguous: the championship crown isn’t going anywhere.

Hong Kong and India Shine as Global Participation Skyrockets at Pickleball World Cup 🌎

Fort Lauderdale, USA – The 2025 Pickleball World Cup concluded by celebrating a new global hierarchy in the sport, with Hong Kong-China taking home the prestigious Best Delegation Award. Hong Kong’s stellar run saw them defeat Portugal in the semifinals before ultimately meeting the USA in the final. Tournament organisers lauded Hong Kong’s success, emphasising their passion, teamwork, and heart shown in every rally.

The World Cup was a massive international gathering, bringing together 60 nations competing across multiple divisions. The United States secured the overall World Cup trophy on home soil, dominating the juniors, open, and seniors divisions.

A significant achievement for Asian pickleball saw India clinch the Best Delegation Award in the Junior category, underscoring the nation’s rising influence in the global arena. Individual accolades were also distributed, with Portugal’s captain, Armando Ferreira, winning the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, while USA’s Kyle Yates took the Best Captain Award.

The global boom evidenced at the World Cup is mirrored across the professional circuit. At the PPA World Championship 2025, participation from international countries surged from 1% to 5% year-over-year. Canada boasted the largest international delegation with 38 players, followed by Japan (13), Vietnam (15), and Puerto Rico (10), confirming the sport’s swift evolution from a niche American pastime to a worldwide phenomenon embraced across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Mijas Open 2025 Ramps Up as International Players Contest Individual Semifinals 🇪🇸

Mijas, Spain – The Mijas Open 2025, the fifth stop of the Pickle Pro Tour 2025, has commenced at the Club de Tenis y Pádel Lew Hoad, drawing 148 players and a total of 284 registrations from 11 different nationalities. The action is set to move to the central court at the Auditorio de El Gran Parque de La Costa del Sol for the semifinals on Saturday, November 8th, and the finals on Sunday, November 9th.

The first day of the tournament, November 6th, concluded with four initial champions crowned in the TALENT and +50 PRO categories: Ernesto Molinari (+50 TALENT Individual Men’s), Gabriel Satrústegui (+50 PRO Individual Men’s), Juan Gemez (+18 TALENT Individual Men’s), and María Jesús Fernández (+18 TALENT Individual Women’s). Fernández continued her success by winning the +18 TALENT Women’s Doubles alongside Soledad Fernández on Friday. Other TALENT doubles winners included Mercedes Gutierrez/Joel Campillo (+18 Mixed) and Enrique Romero Frías/Melquiades Álvarez (+18 Men’s).

In the PRO categories, Pep Canyadell, the current No. 1 ranked player in Men’s Singles, skipped the individual draw but successfully debuted new partnerships in doubles. He played Men's Doubles with Carlos Alberto Pérez and Mixed Doubles with María Costantino. The notable new pairing of Ignasi de Rueda (Men’s Doubles No. 1) and Joshua Bright also began their run.

The individual PRO semifinal matchups were established quickly: 📈 +18 PRO Men’s Singles: Ignasi de Rueda, José Enrique de La Torre, Alexander Serrano, and Daulet Dzhumaev advanced. 📈 +18 PRO Women’s Singles: Paula Levitskiy, Sabrina Méndez, María Pintor, and Amanda Rosati secured their spots.

Friday's play confirmed all doubles semifinalists, setting the stage for major matchups on Saturday, including Canyadell/Pérez versus Bright/de Rueda in the Men’s PRO category.

Cricketer Rishabh Pant and Swiggy Launch Mumbai’s Biggest Pickleball Event with ₹15 Lac Prize Pool 🇮🇳

Mumbai, India – Mumbai Pickle Power (MPP), the city’s World Pickleball League (WPBL) franchise, has launched the inaugural edition of its flagship championship, the MPP Dink-Off, scheduled to run from November 6-9, 2025. Co-owned by ace Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant and Swiggy (India’s on-demand convenience platform), the tournament features a significant ₹ 15 Lac prize money pool.

The MPP Dink-Off is supported by the WPBL's 'On Tour' initiative and promises high-octane rallies and packed stands, celebrating the sport's rapid rise in the city. Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy Food Marketplace, emphasized the event’s purpose, noting that pickleball is "easy to adopt, inclusive and most importantly, fun to play," aligning with Swiggy’s goal of bringing Mumbai together through sport.

Designed to be inclusive and accommodate all ages, genders, and playing abilities, the tournament aims to provide a vital platform for budding youngsters to display their talent and potentially advance to the next level of the WPBL.

The championship includes competition in Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, segmented into 55 separate sub-categories. Participants compete across three skill levels—Intermediate (DUPR 3.0+), Advanced (DUPR 4.0+), and Pro (DUPR 5.0+)—and multiple age brackets (Under 14, Under 18, Open, 35+, and 50+). Group stage matches are held at St. Xavier’s Technical Institute, Mahim, and Apostolic Carmel School, Bandra, while the Grand Finals will take place on November 9 at Torba, Bandra.

CityPickle Secures Landmark 20-Year, $100 Million Deal to Operate Central Park Courts 🏙️

New York City, USA – Pickleball has cemented its place as a long-term fixture in Central Park, following the historic announcement that CityPickle secured a 20-year deal to operate courts at the iconic Wollman Rink. This commitment was finalised by NYC Parks after a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

The financial magnitude of the agreement is staggering, with the total value of the deal to the City projected to exceed $100 million. This figure incorporates a record cumulative minimum fee offer of $91 million, along with a mandatory minimum capital investment of $10.9 million.

CityPickle Co-Founder Mary Cannon stated that securing a 20-year home in the world’s most iconic park is an "unprecedented moment for the sport of pickleball". Cannon emphasised that this deal reflects pickleball’s massive popularity and New York City’s commitment to providing accessible recreation for all residents and tourists.

Wollman Rink has already proven to be a central hub for the sport, having hosted over 180,000 players swinging a paddle in the last three years. The location also hosted the 2025 Major League Pickleball Finals, drawing sellout crowds throughout the weekend. This Central Park contract marks the latest of several major investments by CityPickle, which is actively building pickleball infrastructure, including a new flagship headquarters in Times Square, CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge opening in Spring 2026, and Boca Paddle in Florida.

Philippines Collegiate Pickleball Set for Historic Debut Championship 🎓

Las Piñas City, Philippines – Collegiate pickleball in the Philippines is reaching a major milestone with the launch of the inaugural Pilipinas Pickleball Intercollegiate Championship on November 15. This landmark event, organised by the Pickleball Intercollegiate League Pilipinas, is set to take place at the Quantum Clubhouse on Concha Cruz Drive.

The much-anticipated championship marks the first-ever intercollegiate pickleball competition in the Philippines, reflecting the sport's rapid growth among students. The event anticipates participation from over 15 universities and more than 200 active players.

The pioneer cast of seven participating schools includes prominent institutions: University of Santo Tomas (UST), Mapua University, National University (NU), University of the Philippines (UP), De La Salle University (DLSU), Lyceum University, and College of Saint Benilde (CSB).

The tournament will utilise a round-robin format within pools, transitioning into a single-elimination knockout stage to determine the eventual winners. To ensure balanced and inclusive competition, each team matchup will feature a combination of matches: two men’s doubles, two women’s doubles, and one mixed doubles. Organisers view the championship as a crucial development step, hoping to inspire more universities to adopt pickleball and create new opportunities for student-athletes to compete nationally.