APC Triumph, World Cup Prep, JOOLA Lawsuit, IPA Nationals Announced
Good morning, pickleballers and welcome to your new week!
Plenty of pickleball news dropped over the weekend and it is my pleasure to bring you up-to-date.
APC Shines on Gold Coast: Donnelly Secures Historic Dual Triple Crown at Largest Southern Hemisphere Event
Gold Coast, Australia – The 2025 Trilogy Funds Australian Pickleball Championships (APC) concluded recently at the Pimpama Sports Hub, etching new names into the history books following a memorable sixth edition. With over 1,200 players converging on the Gold Coast, the APC cemented its place as the second-largest tournament outside of the US, surpassed only by the 2025 English Open in participation.
The event delivered on its goal of providing a second-to-none player experience and leaving a lasting legacy on the Gold Coast. Event organisers, including Event Manager Kerry Gray, thanked the staff, volunteers, and presenting partner, Trilogy Funds, for their crucial support.
The professional field saw fierce competition, resulting in several standout champions. Harrison Brown (QLD) took the title in Open Men’s Singles, while Katie Morris (ENG) claimed Open Women’s Singles. Brown doubled up by winning Open Mixed Doubles alongside Sarah Burr (QLD). Other Pro Champions included Andrew Horridge (WA) and Chris Turvey (VIC) in Open Men’s Doubles, and Bernadette Massih (NSW) and Talia Saunders (SA) in Open Women’s Doubles.
A major headline was the performance of Lachy Donnelly (QLD), who was crowned the Player of the Tournament. Donnelly achieved a remarkable feat never accomplished before by securing a dual Triple Crown. The Spirit of Pickleball Award was presented to Deb Khoury (NSW) for her ongoing contribution to the sport. The Pickleball Australia team confirmed that the 2025 APC once again broke records as the biggest pickleball event in the Southern Hemisphere.
Florida Gears Up for Second Annual Pickleball World Cup: India Makes Landmark Debut
Florida, USA – The prestigious Pickleball World Cup 2025 is set to kick off in Florida, USA, running from October 27 to November 2. Recognised by the Global Pickleball Federation, this will be the second edition of the global tournament. A monumental 68 delegations will compete, structured into 17 groups (A to Q), each containing four teams.
The top seeds leading the charge are USA, Puerto Rico (the 2024 defending champions), Peru, and Chinese Taipei, all of whom were medallists in the inaugural edition. To maintain competitive balance, the grouping rule ensures that no more than two countries from the same continental region are placed in the same group.
Tournament play promises intense action, starting with a round-robin stage where each group plays six matches. Each match features six games (Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles 1, Mixed Doubles 2, Women’s Singles, and Men’s Singles), played to 15 points using rally scoring, requiring a win by two. The competition features a unique and dramatic tiebreaker mechanism called the “Final Battle”—a singles match involving four players rotating every three points.
Following the group stage, 34 teams will advance to the knockout phase, where matches will escalate to 21 points, win by two. The 2025 event is a milestone in the sport's international journey due to the high participation and, significantly, the first-ever appearance of India. India has sent a 14-member delegation, including Aman Patel (Men’s Singles), Amrita Mukherjee (Women’s Singles), and experienced players like Suryaveer Singh Bhullar and Nitten Kirtane in the 50+ category.
CNPL Launches "C4" 2026 Season Planning: New Net Partner Secured and Key Players Locked In
Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) is already laying the groundwork for its fourth and "most explosive season yet," C4, scheduled for 2026. The league has proactively designed the 2026 calendar in collaboration with the global pickleball alliance to ensure the schedule avoids conflicts with major international tours and events, supporting athletes who represent both their pro teams and the world stage.
The key dates for C4 include the Draft Day on January 27, 2026, followed by the Regular Season Opener on May 9 & 10. The season structure features regional splits (Western, Eastern, Metropolitan, Central) leading up to the Trade Deadline on August 11, and culminates in the Championship Weekend on September 26 & 27.
Off the court, the CNPL is enhancing its infrastructure, announcing C&D Nets as the Official Net Partner of the league. C&D nets, known globally for their professional design, durability, and use on circuits like the APP Tour, will ensure athletes compete on the highest standard of setup.
Teams are simultaneously fortifying their rosters during the offseason. The Detroit-Windsor Drive re-signed key contributor Evan Hollinsky, known for his dynamic athleticism and relentless energy, making him central to the team's rebuild. The Southwestern Ontario Brewers secured the return of core players Kyle Hermetz (anchoring the men's lineup with explosive power) and rising star Ava Kalist (known for finesse and quick hands), crucial players in the Brewers’ 2025 playoff push. These signings, along with Montreal Lions' Ernesto Fajardo and Toronto United's Matthew Kawamoto (already under contract), mark the beginning of a highly anticipated CNPL season.
PPA Tour: Haworth and Jansen Crowned LT Open Singles Champions Amidst Paddle Controversy; Vegas Cup Preview
Atlanta, USA – The PPA Tour’s inaugural LT Open in Atlanta concluded with Chris Haworth and Lea Jansen striking gold in the singles championships, each securing a $50,000 prize. Both players endured physically demanding days, battling through two best-of-five matches on Sunday. Haworth claimed his second consecutive singles title by outlasting top seed Federico Staksrud in a five-game thriller (11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-1, 11-1). Jansen secured her first PPA title since the 2024 Texas Open by defeating her Columbus Sliders teammate, Parris Todd (13-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6).
However, the tournament was also marked by procedural frustration. Following his Round of 16 loss to top seed Staksrud, Zane Ford took to social media to voice displeasure over what he perceived as Staksrud's delay tactics, noting the number-one-ranked player forgot to test his paddle before the match. The match started nine minutes late, prompting Ford to call for stricter rules. Staksrud apologised and agreed that rules should be improved, pointing out he had also experienced a 15-minute delay previously due to an opponent's testing issue. Currently, the 2025 PPA Tournament Handbook does not specify a penalty for such negligence.
As the LT Open dust settles, the tour immediately shifts to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Rate Vegas Cup presented by Holland America. The anticipation is high, with Anna Leigh Waters entering as the dominant favourite across Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles (with Ben Johns), maintaining a highly dominant winning streak. Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns are favoured in Men's Doubles. The men’s singles field is deep, led by top seed Hunter Johnson, with recent champion Chris Haworth also in the draw. Main draw action in Las Vegas starts on Tuesday.
JOOLA Settles Gen 3 Paddle Lawsuit, Triggering Refund Process
Florida, USA – Sport Squad, the parent company of the US-headquartered equipment manufacturer JOOLA, has settled a class-action lawsuit filed in Florida. The suit, filed by Gregory Matus in June 2024, alleged that JOOLA misled consumers by selling its Gen 3 paddles at full price under the false claim that they were officially USAPA-certified.
While JOOLA denied any wrongdoing, the company had previously filed a separate lawsuit against USAPA, arguing the organisation's decision to revoke certification was unjustified. USAPA countered by alleging that JOOLA had knowingly sold modified versions of the paddles, differing from the prototypes initially approved.
The settlement offers a resolution to affected consumers, highlighting existing complexities in product certification and consumer expectations. Class members who can provide purchase details for the Gen 3 paddles are eligible to receive a refund of $300. Those unable to provide proof of purchase will receive a $150 gift code redeemable on JOOLA’s official website. The deadline for class members to submit their valid claims is December 15. This case has placed a definitive spotlight on paddle certification standards and may set a future precedent for how manufacturers manage approvals.
Global Pickleball Federation Launches 'OPERATION PaddleLift' to Combat Worldwide Equipment Deficit
Global – The Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) has launched a major crowdfunding campaign, OPERATION PaddleLift, in partnership with Pickleball for Good, to address the worldwide deficit of pickleball equipment. The imbalance in equipment access is currently limiting the sport's growth in remote regions, including countries like Oman.
OPERATION PaddleLift is the world’s first such crowdfunding initiative aimed specifically at raising critical funds to defray the substantial costs associated with shipping, import duties, and customs charges when delivering gear to under-championed areas.
The generous team at Pickleheads has already jump-started the initiative by donating 100 new paddles to be allocated immediately to eager GPF members in Argentina, Oman, Ukraine, and Malawi. However, the need remains acute: in underserved parts of the world, it is common for desks to function as makeshift nets or for an entire village to share a set of four paddles.
The GPF aims for every tax-deductible donation to contribute toward an OPERATION PaddleLift kit, which contains 20 paddles, four nets, and 40 pickleballs. The kits are intended to inspire future athletes and help level the playing field by delivering equipment starter kits free of charge to member applicants. The GPF, which includes 72 member nations across continental federations like Africa (CAP), the Americas (PFA), Oceania (OPF), and Asia (APA), is committed not only to delivery but also to managing equipment, conducting training, and promoting grassroots growth in each member country.
Bollywood BFF Era? Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt Spotted in Friendly Pickleball Session
Mumbai, India – Bollywood superstars Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt recently delighted fans and the paparazzi after being spotted enjoying a friendly pickleball session together in Mumbai. The playful outing has been hailed by many fans online as the beginning of their ‘BFF era’.
The actresses were captured by photographers leaving a Mumbai Sports complex, still holding their paddles, smiling, laughing, and chatting casually. Padukone was dressed in a relaxed, sporty look featuring a white hoodie and black leggings, while Bhatt opted for a blue athleisure set.
The candid moment resonated strongly on social media, with one user commenting, “Their chemistry feels so real, not staged at all!”. Another user praised their behaviour, noting that while people try to "pit them against each other online, they’re out here just playing padel and talking about their babies — iconic behaviour”.
Both stars remain busy professionally. Padukone is currently preparing for Siddarth Anand’s film King, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan. Bhatt is scheduled to release her action film Alpha on December 25, 2025, alongside Sharvari Wagh and Bobby Deol, and is also filming Love and War with Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
Bengaluru to Host Inaugural IPA Nationals 2025, Targeting One Million New Players
Bengaluru, India – India's pickleball community is preparing for a historic event: the inaugural IPA Pickleball Nationals 2025, scheduled to take place in Bengaluru from November 13 to 16. Organised by the Karnataka Pickleball Association (KPA) at The Sports School, this marks the first-ever Pickleball Nationals since the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) achieved official recognition as the National Sports Federation on April 25 of this year.
This tournament is designated as India’s largest pickleball event and will be the country's first-ever PWR2000 event, making it a major milestone for the sport nationally. The event has received significant backing from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President of the IPA, emphasised the tournament's role in the organisation’s larger strategic vision: “This furthers our initiative to introduce one million new Pickleball players by the end of 2026”. Shree Harsha, President of the KPA, noted that hosting the Nationals is a proud moment for Karnataka, reflecting the region's passionate pickleball hub.
Nationwide selection trials are currently underway. Players are urged to register to compete across categories spanning from under-12 to 70+ age brackets, in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. The IPA has also partnered with Playo, the world’s largest sports community, as the ‘Official Sports Community Partner’ to help drive visibility and community participation.