Austria’s Euros Gold, Ben Johns’ Journey & Global Pickleball Highlights
Good morning, pickleballers!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Stephen Preissler and Prycen Haas - they won the GOLD for Team Austria in the men's doubles open bracket, taking down eventual overall Champions Spain in the Euros Final in Rome a couple of weeks ago.
It was a really insightful chat - Prycen and Stephen told me their stories of how they got into pickleball, how with both living outside of Austria, they received their call-ups and then, of course, how they went on to win the most epic of finals.
You can find the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes and more or you can listen directly to this episode below.
Here's the latest pickleball news from the last 24 hours.
Pickleball Icon Ben Johns Shares Path to Pro Stardom and Essential Tips for Beginners
Malaysia – During a recent break from competing in PPA Tour Asia events, pickleball superstar Ben Johns sat down for an exclusive Q&A session with Stadium Astro’s Michelle Lee to offer insights into his professional journey and advice for aspiring players.
Johns, who started playing nine years ago in 2016, recalled a time when pickleball was not a professional sport and players travelled for the love of the game and competition. The shift toward professionalism was gradual, taking approximately three years as tournaments, prize money, and sponsors grew bigger. Johns ultimately decided to pursue pickleball professionally upon graduating from school, opting not to utilise his field of study.
The ability to adapt skills from previous sports, including tennis, table tennis, and baseball, has significantly impacted his game, allowing him to leverage strengths while eliminating weaknesses. Johns noted that pickleball is unique in attracting athletes from diverse backgrounds, whose specific strengths are often recognisable in their play style.
When asked for recommended drills, Johns suggested focusing on repetition and mastering three or four basic skills before moving to advanced, isolated shots. His favourite initial drill is playing half-court singles cross-court, which effectively simulates doubles play while giving a player double the repetitions.
On the future challenges facing the booming sport, Johns expressed concern that pickleball doesn't become "too much about" business and money. He emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective, keeping the focus on the sport, enjoyment, health, and people. Johns believes pickleball generally solves its own problems, calling the sport its "own mastermind".
Regarding on-court philosophy, Johns advises aspiring players to try and do what they enjoy as much as possible, focusing on what is fulfilling rather than simply seeking what they are told will bring satisfaction. He also shared that, even at the professional level, he focuses on developing shots that are "so good that it doesn't matter" if the opponent sees them coming, rather than relying solely on unpredictability. If he could choose a partner outside of pickleball, Johns would pick Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton or tennis champion Novak Djokovic, praising Djokovic's spectacular mental athleticism.
Youth Star Choubey and Goa Veterans Shine at 9th AIPA National Pickleball Championship
Jammu, India – The 9th All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) National Championship 2025, held from September 26 to 28, concluded with historic victories for Chhattisgarh and dominant results for Goa's veterans.
Chhattisgarh made history by securing two gold medals, both spearheaded by rising young player Choubey. Choubey clinched the Under-14 Boys’ Singles title, defeating Vishva of Telangana 15-9 in the final, marking the state's first-ever national gold. He completed the double by partnering with Debashish Manjhi to claim the Under-14 Boys’ Doubles crown, beating Maharashtra’s Arnav Karmakar and Aarav Surve 15-7 in the final.
Meanwhile, Goa’s team dominated the Veterans division, securing the Veterans Team title along with five gold medals and two silvers overall. Goa’s dual golden performances came from Noel Noronha and Audrey Menezes, who each claimed two golds. Noronha earned gold in the 50+ Men’s Singles and the 50+ Men’s Doubles (with Wilfred Jaques). Menezes mirrored his success, winning the 50+ Women’s Singles and the 50+ Mixed Doubles (with Clarence Noronha). Goa’s success was rounded out by James Anderson and Parag Joshi, who took gold in the 60+ Men’s Doubles.
Beyond the gold medals, Goa demonstrated depth with James Anderson earning silver in the 60+ Men’s Singles, and Nihaal Borkar and Ruta Borkar claiming silver in the 35+ Mixed Doubles. Rising star Tvisha Sardesai also secured a bronze in the U16 Girls Singles.
Mayur Sawkar, President of the Goa Pickleball Association, highlighted that the state's talent and potential are soaring. With new courts opening at venues like Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias and Panjim Gymkhana, Sawkar stated that Goa is growing rapidly and has the potential to become a "Pickleball destination".
US Pros Sweep Gold, But Australian Duo Stuns Favourites at Panas Malaysia Cup
Malaysia – The PPA Tour Asia’s Panas Malaysia Cup recently showcased the growing talent in the region, though the tournament concluded with players from the US tour sweeping all five gold medals. Despite the US dominance, Asian and Australian players demonstrated significant progress, occasionally pushing the American stars to their limits.
The American contingent—including Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Christian Alshon, Kaitlyn Christian, and Tyson McGuffin—dominated the medal count. Christian Alshon achieved one gold and two silvers. He was defeated in the Men’s Doubles final alongside Ben Johns by the Brazilian-American duo of Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins in a marathon match that went 11-5, 13-15, 11-9. Kaitlyn Christian reached three finals, ultimately securing gold in two.
The biggest upset of the tournament was delivered by the Australian women’s doubles pair, Nicola Schoeman and Danni-Elle Townsend. They stunned top seeds Anna Bright and Roos Van Reek in the quarterfinals, winning decisively 11-6, 11-3. Schoeman and Townsend secured the silver medal, losing the final to Zoey Wang and Kaitlyn Christian 11-6, 14-12. Another Australian, Sahra Dennehy, partnered with Santhosh Narayanan for a major upset in the Mixed Doubles quarterfinals, defeating McGuffin and Zoey Wang.
On the men's side, Hong Kong’s Hong Kit (Jack) Wong made a strong run, earning a silver medal in Men’s Singles after falling to Christian Alshon 11-6, 14-12 in the final.
Analyst Jim Kloss noted that while the US-based players were highly successful, they appeared to be playing at about 80-85% of their normal level due to the long flight and the hot, humid conditions. Despite the easier draws compared to US PPA events, the Malaysia Cup confirmed that Asian players are making progress, particularly in singles and on the women's side. Kloss singled out Danni-Elle Townsend, citing her high-level doubles skills (dinks, speedups, and counters), suggesting she is a borderline Major League Pickleball (MLP) Premier player.
Top Seeds Targeted as PPA Tour Asia’s MB Vietnam Cup Kicks Off in Da Nang
Da Nang, Vietnam – The MB Vietnam Cup 2025 has unfurled at the Tien Son Sports Arena, with the world's best pickleball athletes immediately diving into another week of elite PPA Tour Asia competition fresh from the Panas Malaysia Cup. The tournament promises high drama as recent breakthrough champions now carry the pressure of top seeding.
Brazil’s Eric Oncins enters the MB Vietnam Cup as the Men’s Singles top seed, a notable shift for the player who recently claimed his first Championship Sunday triumph. Oncins, alongside Tyson McGuffin, is also defending their Malaysia Men’s Doubles title, returning as the second seed pairing.
The Women’s Singles draw holds the potential for a blockbuster quarterfinal. Top seed Kaitlyn Christian, who arrives with double gold momentum from Malaysia, could face fifth seed Yufei Long, Asia’s most successful female player with four PPA Tour Asia singles titles.
Home country stars are highly motivated to impress the local crowds. Phuc Huynh, the fourth seed in Men’s Singles, is riding high following his golden performance at the MB Vietnam Open just weeks ago. Huynh’s potential quarterfinal opponent could be 14-year-old sensation Tama Shimabukuro, who continues his breakthrough tour run after stunning Tyler Loong at the Sansan Fukuoka Open. Additionally, Giang Trinh, the third seed, is vying for a home title after previously winning the Panas Malaysia Open in July.
Intriguing new partnerships highlight the draw. Ben Johns continues his experiments, pairing with Dekel Bar as the top seeds in Men’s Doubles, following his silver medal finish in Malaysia with Christian Alshon. Mixed Doubles also features a team to watch: fourth seeds Danni-Elle Townsend and Zane Navratil. Townsend recently secured a stunning Women’s Doubles upset and silver medal in Malaysia, while Navratil is fresh from a bronze medal run in Men’s Doubles. Meanwhile, Wong Hong Kit, the Hong Kong Open champion, seeks redemption as the second seed in Men's Singles following his Malaysia Cup final loss.
Michigan Duo Secures $25,000 Payout and Pro Spot at The Kitchen Open Austin
Austin, USA – The partnership of Nicholas Romano and Connor Mogle achieved its biggest victory to date, securing the gold medal at The Kitchen Open Austin and claiming the associated $25,000 grand prize. The duo, former college tennis teammates at Spring Arbor University, competed against a field of nearly 50 top amateur teams.
Romano, 28, and Mogle, 26, went undefeated throughout the tournament, not dropping a single game in their four bracket matches. The final rounds were held at The Kitchen HQ near downtown Austin.
Their toughest test came in the quarterfinals against the Kansas City team of TJ Stansbury and Bret Berryman, where Romano and Mogle overcame deficits in both games to win 11-8, 11-7. After refocusing during a break, the duo accelerated their play, dominating the semifinals against Chase Womack and Austin Gridley 11-0, 11-4. They capped off the tournament by defeating Matthew Barlow and Luke Lemaitre 11-5, 11-7 in the final. Mogle credited their ability to finish strong in close matches and superior shot-making at the kitchen line.
The significant cash prize is set to be reinvested into the partners’ pickleball careers, covering travel and entry fees as they actively pursue professional aspirations. Both players are currently performing well on the PPA Tour Challenger Series, ranking in the Top 10 in singles and men’s doubles points standings.
In addition to the financial reward, the victory guarantees Romano and Mogle an automatic Main Draw spot at the Pickleball World Championships in Dallas this November. Romano noted the importance of the exposure, especially coming from Michigan where it is harder to gain visibility compared to players training in warmer climates like Texas and Florida. The victorious duo is already planning to compete at The Kitchen Open Atlanta at the end of October, where another $25,000 grand prize will be offered.
Strategy Over Skill: Mastering the 5.0 Level in Pickleball Requires Mental Edge
Global – Reaching a 5.0 skill level in pickleball is an elite accomplishment that requires moving beyond basic consistency and focusing heavily on strategy, transforming the game into "chess while the rest are still figuring out what the pieces do".
At the 5.0 level, players demonstrate superior technical proficiency across the court. They can hit a wide array of forehands and backhands with high accuracy, applying spin and touch while effectively countering opponents' spin. Serves and returns are delivered with pace and depth, and varied strategically to keep opponents guessing.
Dinking at this stage is aggressive and used primarily to create offensive opportunities, rather than merely keeping the point alive. Players show patience at the kitchen line, leading to extended dink rallies instead of constant speedups observed at lower levels. Similarly, the third shot—whether a drop or a drive—is executed with high consistency and used strategically to get to the kitchen and apply pressure, rather than forcing a winner.
A signature trait of 5.0 play is the speedup. These players can accelerate the ball off the bounce or out of the air with a high rate of success, using well-hidden speedups to catch opponents off guard and create offence. Volleys are used to counter attacks, often hit to the opponent's feet or an unattackable location.
Ultimately, strategy is the most defining factor. High-level players utilise incredible footwork to maintain optimal position and strategically place the ball to get opponents out of position. They excel at misdirection, counterattacks, and quickly adapting strategies based on the strengths and weaknesses of their partners and opponents. While getting to 5.0 is a massive accomplishment, progressing to the pro level requires a dedicated mindset shift focused on putting oneself in high-pressure situations repeatedly until comfort is achieved.
From 'Fun' to 'Fluid': Understanding the Four Stages of Pickleball Mastery
Global – Learning pickleball, a sport famously "easy to learn, but hard to master," involves progressing through four essential stages of skill development, a framework highlighted by TeachMe.To. Recognising one's current stage is crucial for effective improvement.
The developmental process begins with Stage 1: Unconscious Incompetence, where beginning players do not recognise their weaknesses or the amount of practice required. This lack of awareness, stemming from the sport’s low barrier to entry, can create a false sense of security. The path to Stage 2 requires gaining exposure to higher levels of play or receiving feedback from experienced coaches.
In Stage 2: Conscious Incompetence, players become aware of the complexity of the sport and realise their limitations, which can often lead to frustration. This crucial realisation, however, provides the necessary motivation to improve through focused drilling on specific shots.
Stage 3: Conscious Competence is reached when players can execute standard shots—such as dinks, drives, and third-shot drops—but still require concentrated effort and focus on technique and court positioning for every shot and decision. To progress, players must practice regularly, seek feedback, and gradually tackle more advanced concepts.
The final stage is Stage 4: Unconscious Competence, representing mastery. At this point, the high-level execution of shots is driven by muscle memory acquired over thousands of reps, requiring little conscious thought. Like a professional quarterback focusing on reading the defence instead of footwork, the high-level pickleball player’s mechanics are second nature.
Identifying one’s current stage is key to effective training. Players should track metrics like their DUPR rating, identify consistent challenges, and gauge the effort required for tasks. Working with a trusted instructor can dramatically speed up development; a study on tennis players found coached participants advanced from Stage 2 to Stage 3 in three months, compared to seven months for those learning independently.
World No. 1 Federico Staksrud Calls for Annual 'Team World vs. Team USA' Pickleball Showdown
USA – Pickleball superstar Federico Staksrud has proposed an exciting international event, tweeting PPA Tour Co-Founder Connor Pardoe about organising an annual "Team World vs. Team USA" pickleball competition.
Staksrud, the Argentinian player ranked No. 1 in Men’s Singles on the PPA Tour, publicly endorsed the concept, tagging Pardoe and stating, "Let’s do it!!". He suggested the event should be an annual concept and could draw inspiration from tennis’s Laver Cup format, running Friday through Sunday and featuring a combination of singles, mixed, and gender doubles matches.
The proposed showdown would pit America's finest against the top international picklers. Staksrud, who is also ranked No. 3 in Men’s Doubles and No. 4 overall on the PPA Tour, would be a clear choice for Team World. Other potential international additions include Australia’s Mitchell Hargreaves, France’s Jay Devilliers, Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit, and China’s Yufei Long.
Team USA would field major talent, likely including Ben and Collin Johns, Christian Alshon, Anna Bright, and Anna Leigh Waters. This proposition comes shortly after several US stars, including Johns, Alshon, and Bright, recently competed against Asia’s best at the Panas Malaysia Cup. Staksrud believes fans would love to watch such a match-up.