Bhatia secures Indian first, Perth results, Lendl dominates, Fudge history

Good morning, pickleballers!

Good weekend? I hope you got on court and hit some balls. Personally, I am still buzzing at my first-ever 4.0 gold medal picked up in Swindon yesterday in the mixed doubles. Never underestimate the value of a really good drilling session, which I did on Friday, and felt sharp going into the weekend - drilling beats rec play for improvement every time.

Right then, what's happened in the last 24 hours in the pickleball world? Here's the latest news.

Indian History Made! Armaan Bhatia Secures First-Ever APP Tour Podium Finish on American Soil

Cincinnati, USA – Armaan Bhatia, India's top-ranked men's singles pickleball player, created history by becoming the first Indian man to earn a podium finish on the APP Tour on American soil. Bhatia secured a historic silver medal at the highly competitive 2025 APP Vlasic Classic in Cincinnati, a top-rated APP Tour event.

In his first appearance in an APP Tour final, Bhatia faced second-seeded Grayson Goldin of the US. Bhatia started strong, taking the opening game 15-11, but Goldin staged a comeback to win the match 15-11, 11-15, 8-15.

Throughout the tournament, Bhatia demonstrated his growth as a professional. Notably, he pulled off a significant upset in the semifinals, defeating top-seeded Chris Haworth 15-9, 15-4. This silver medal adds to Bhatia's recent success, which included a rare treble in India in 2024 and multiple international doubles titles. His performance in Cincinnati followed meticulous preparation, including training in Austin, Texas. Goldin, who won the gold, expressed his comfort playing in Cincinnati.

Perth Shines: Hart & Horridge, Hart & van Reek Claim Gold, Bronze Breakthroughs in Australia

Perth, Australia – The 2025 Perth Pickleball Open, a key stop on the PPA Tour in Australia, recently wrapped up in Inglewood, Western Australia, featuring standout performances and significant podium finishes.

On May 10, Kaitlynn Hart and Andrew Horridge secured the gold medal in the pro mixed doubles final, defeating Roos van Reek and Jai Grewal 11-9, 11-4. This victory is an important step for their standing and confidence. In the same division, Molly O’Donoghue and Louis Laville earned the bronze medal, beating Seina Shima and Oliver Dobson in straight games, 11-9 and 11-5.

Women's doubles on May 11 saw Kaitlynn Hart claim her second gold medal, partnering with Roos van Reek to win the Pro Women's Doubles final. They defeated Katie Morris and Molly O’Donoghue 11-3 and 11-5, showcasing dominant control. Seina Shima and K. S. also achieved a bronze breakthrough in Pro Women's Doubles, defeating Cindy Meintjes and Michelle Russ 11-4, 11-2. These results highlight strong competition and notable successes on the Australian tour.

Malaysia's Pickleball Future: Building Vibrant Communities, Not Just Courts – Key Insights from the Summit

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The KL Pickleball Summit 2025, hosted by Courtsite at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, recently convened Malaysia's pickleball community to chart the sport's future. A central theme emerging from the discussions was that sustainable growth hinges on building stronger, authentic communities, rather than just increasing the number of courts.

Speakers highlighted that community serves as the foundation for the sport, with clubs acting as vital social ecosystems. A significant caution was issued against constructing courts without a long-term vision, warning they could sit underused after a short period. The consensus was that courts must evolve into vibrant culture hubs.

Insights from founders and experts stressed the necessity of investing in the overall player experience, including the facility's vibe and service quality, acknowledging that players prioritize community connection. As Malaysia approaches a "saturation point" for courts, the focus shifts to intentional growth, driven by differentiated offerings and visionary leadership. The summit reinforced the message that investing in holistic, player-centred journeys is paramount for loyalty and longevity.

May Australian Pickleball Rankings Shake-Up: New Number 1s Crowned, Elite Four Dominate Across Disciplines

Australia – The May Australian Pickleball Rankings have been released, revealing some significant shifts and highlighting the consistent excellence of the nation's top players. For the first time in nine months, there is a new Men's Singles number 1, with Mitch Hargreaves taking the top spot from Tom Evans. Somer Dalla-Bona remains the undisputed number 1 in Women's Singles and has also ascended to the top ranking in Pro Women's Doubles, displacing long-time number one Sarah Burr.

Other dominant figures include George Wall, who is the Men's Doubles number 1, and Joseph Wild, who ranks second in Men's Doubles and first in Men's Mixed Doubles. Danni-Elle Townsend holds a significant lead as the number one in Women's Mixed Doubles.

Notably, the rankings underscore the dominance of four players who consistently feature in the top 5 across all three disciplines (Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles). These elite athletes are Mitchell Hargreaves, Joseph Wild, Somer Dalla-Bona, and Danni-Elle Townsend, showcasing their versatility and top-tier performance on the Australian circuit.

APP Vlasic Classic: Megan Fudge Makes History as All-Time Medals Leader, Howells, Sewing, Goldin Strike Gold

Cincinnati, USA – The 2025 APP Vlasic Classic at Sawyer Point witnessed historic achievements and dominant performances. Megan Fudge etched her name in the record books, becoming the APP Tour's all-time total career medals leader. Earning her 69th and 70th medals at the event, she surpassed JW Johnson's previous record of 68. Fudge secured gold in women's doubles alongside Jill Braverman and silver in mixed doubles with Jack Munro.

The tournament also saw Will Howells continue his impressive run, claiming two gold medals. He won men's doubles with Jack Munro and mixed doubles with Bobbi Oshiro. Sofia Sewing added another title to her season, winning women's singles gold. Meanwhile, Grayson Goldin captured his first men's singles gold medal since May 2024, triumphing on the same Cincinnati courts. The event showcased elite professional play across multiple divisions.

Tennis Legend Ivan Lendl Claims Two Golds at US Open Pickleball, Shows Agassi the Way to Masters Glory?

USA – Eight-time Grand Slam winning tennis legend Ivan Lendl recently showcased his skills at this year's US Open Pickleball Championships. While fellow tennis icon Andre Agassi also participated, Lendl took a different, highly successful approach by competing within his own age group category. Lendl proved dominant, securing two gold medals in the men’s doubles 65+ and the mixed doubles 65+ divisions. He was described as looking great, displaying flashes of the talent that earned him numerous Grand Slam titles, effectively adapting his game to the pace of the 65+ field. The source suggests Lendl's focus on age-appropriate competition aligns well with the inclusive spirit of pickleball. His performance serves as a potential blueprint, suggesting that Agassi and other senior players could find significant success and competitive fulfillment by focusing on masters and age-group events. The report expresses hope that Agassi might follow Lendl's example to become a prominent figure in masters pickleball. Lendl's low-profile participation is seen as motivated by a genuine love for the game and the desire for competitive play.