English Nationals, Brad Penny & PPA Triple Crowns Lead Headlines

Good morning, pickleballers.

Looking for the latest pickleball news? Then you are in the right place.

Each day, I trawl the internet for the latest world pickleball news and I turn it into a daily report for you to make your life easier.

If you want more information on each story, typically you can head over to our news page where we break down each bit of global pickleball news in more detail.

Enjoy!

And you can listen to today's news summary in a new feature below.

Family Triumph at English Nationals: Twin Brothers Noah & Miles Medal in Debut

Loughborough, England – The English National Singles tournament at the Dan Maskell Tennis Centre on Sunday, May 5, 2025, was a significant event for the Freeman family, particularly twin brothers Noah and Miles. Their mother, Katy, discovered pickleball last year and the entire family embraced the sport.

Noah and Miles, competing in the under-14 age group despite having previously only played matches against each other, achieved remarkable success in their debut competitive event. Noah secured a silver medal, while Miles earned a bronze medal. Adding to the family narrative, the twins even faced off against each other in a close match, with Noah winning 11-10. The Freeman family was also thanked for their assistance during the tournament setup and festival. 

MLB All-Star Brad Penny Goes 'Head First' into Pro Pickleball Pursuit

Overland Park, Kansas – Former Major League Baseball pitcher Brad Penny, a two-time MLB All-Star who retired in 2016 after a 14-year career, has enthusiastically embraced pickleball, diving in "head first" to master the sport. Penny's intense focus began after a loss he felt he should have won, prompting him to dedicate himself to practice. He stated, "Anything I get into, I kind of dive in head first".

Penny is actively developing his skills with JOOLA pro Eric White through rigorous drilling, focusing on specific techniques and utilising video analysis. He prioritises drilling to achieve a high volume of repetitions and reach a better level. Penny finds the sport "addicting, fun, and competitive" and a valuable way to stay in shape. He notes strategic similarities to baseball hitting and has already played at a higher level with pros like Jack Sock. Though respecting the hectic nature of professional events, Penny's commitment underscores his serious pursuit in his new sport.

Perth Pickleball Open Pro Singles Crowned: Laville, van Reek Claim Gold

Inglewood, Australia – The 2025 Perth Pickleball Open, an event on the PPA Tour Australia, saw exciting Pro Singles finals this past weekend at Inglewood, Western Australia.

In the Pro Men's Singles final, Louis Laville staged a dramatic comeback after losing the first game. Laville defeated Andrew Horridge in three games, with scores of 4–11, 11–9, and 11–6, to clinch the championship title.

On the women's side, Roos van Reek delivered a dominant performance in the Pro Women's Singles final. Van Reek overcame Kei S with a decisive scoreline of 11–9, 11–4, securing the gold medal.

The tournament also featured intense bronze medal matches. Katie Morris earned the bronze in Pro Women’s Singles with a comeback victory over Seina Shima (5–11, 11–3, 11–2), while Robbie Lee secured the Pro Men's Singles bronze, winning a tight three-game match against Oliver Dobson (12–10, 6–11, 11–9).

Sofia Sewing Secures Golden Ticket with APP Vlasic Classic Singles Title

Cincinnati, Ohio – Sofia Sewing claimed a significant victory on May 11, 2025, winning the Women’s Pro Singles title at the 2025 APP Vlasic Classic in Cincinnati. This hard-fought win came against Judit Castillo in a thrilling three-set match.

Castillo took the first game with a score of 15-11, but Sewing mounted a strong comeback, winning the second game 16-14 to force a deciding third game. Sewing dominated the final game, taking it 15-10 to secure the match and the championship title. With this victory, Sofia Sewing earned a Golden Ticket to the USA Pickleball National Championships, as the APP Vlasic Classic is part of the Golden Ticket series. This achievement marks a significant moment in her pickleball career, showcasing her skill against top competition.

PPA Atlanta Championship Showdown: Waters Chases 150 Gold, New Partners Clash on Fast Ball

Atlanta, Georgia – The PPA Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships is underway at Life Time Peach Tree Corners, marking a significant stop on the PPA Tour as a Slam-level event. A major focus this week is on Anna Leigh Waters, who is on the verge of a historic achievement, standing just two gold medals away from reaching 150 PPA Tour gold medals.

The tournament also features several newly formed partnerships that are generating considerable interest. Notably, Anna Leigh Waters is competing alongside Anna Bright, while Catherine Parenteau has teamed up with Rachel Rohrabacher. These top-seeded pairings could potentially face off later in the event. Adding another dynamic to the competition is the introduction of the LifeTime ball, described by multiple sources as playing "really fast," providing a unique challenge for players on court. Despite the ball's speed, consistent high humidity levels could also influence gameplay. With high points on the line and intriguing new teams, the championship promises intense action.

Jack Sock Sidelined: Ankle Injury Forces Withdrawal from PPA Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia – One of pickleball’s major tournaments, the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships at Life Time Peach Tree Corners, will proceed this week without a prominent player. Tennis star turned pickleball professional, Jack Sock, has officially withdrawn from the event.

The reason for his withdrawal, announced on May 12, 2025, is an ankle injury. Sock was scheduled to compete across multiple categories, including men’s singles, men’s doubles alongside Eric Roddy, and mixed doubles partnered with his Phoenix Flames teammate, Genie Bouchard. A lucky loser from Monday's qualifying rounds will now fill his vacated spots in the main draw. This withdrawal is a disappointing development for the 32-year-old, especially after his recent performance where he reached the final of the Red Rock Open, finishing as runner-up. Sock's next potential tournament appearance is slated for MLP Phoenix, scheduled for later this month.

India's Legal Eagles Launch First-Ever LawStrings Pickleball Premier League

South Delhi, India – The legal community is set to swap courtrooms for pickleball courts with the launch of the first-ever LawStrings Pickleball Premier League – Lawyer’s Edition. Organised by LawStrings Management, this unique tournament will take place on May 24 and 25, 2025, at REPPP in Mehrauli.

The league features eight franchise teams, owned by prominent legal professionals, competing in men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and recreational matches. The event aims to blend the fields of law and sport, bringing together lawyers across generations for fun, fitness, and friendly rivalry. According to founder Shubham Malhotra, it's about "community building, promoting wellness, and redefining how the legal industry connects outside the courtroom". This two-day event underscores the growing popularity of pickleball in India, particularly among professionals, and is planned to become a regular seasonal league.

Walker & Scarpa Achieve Rare Triple Crown Feat at New England PPA Challenger

Westbrook, Maine, USA – Angie Walker and Anderson Scarpa accomplished a rare feat in professional pickleball this past weekend, earning Triple Crowns at the New England PPA Challenger, held at The Picklr in Westbrook, Maine. This signifies their victory across all three main events: singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles.

The impressive run began on Friday with both players claiming their respective singles titles. They followed this on Saturday with triumphs in gender doubles; Scarpa won alongside Greg Dow, while Walker was victorious with her sister, Alex. The historic Triple Crown was sealed on Sunday when Walker and Scarpa teamed up to capture the mixed doubles title.

Reflecting on the achievement, Walker stated, "I’m so, so excited. The goal of coming here was to win my matches and put some things I’ve been practicing to work, and I’m just really happy". Scarpa added that the wins provide confidence as they look ahead to this week's Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, noting, "We feel ready for Atlanta now".

Wilson Opens First Philippine Flagship Store, Spotlights Pickleball Gear

Pasay City, Philippines – Wilson, a renowned global leader in high-performance sports equipment, has celebrated the grand opening of its first flagship store in the Philippines. Situated within the popular SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the new store serves as a premier destination for racquet sports enthusiasts across the country.

Reflecting the brand's expansion in Southeast Asia, the store offers a wide array of products, with a particular focus on pickleball gear alongside equipment for tennis and padel. Catering to the sport's growing popularity, the store features high-quality pickleball racquets and accessories designed to enhance gameplay for players of all abilities, from beginners to seasoned professionals.

The launch underscores Wilson's commitment to the Philippine market and its aim to meet the rising demand for quality sports equipment. The store provides an immersive experience and is envisioned as a hub for the local racquet sports community. This significant milestone, marked by a star-studded event, elevates access to top-tier gear, supporting the development and enjoyment of pickleball and other racquet sports in the region.

MLP Waiver Wire Buzz: Bellamy Swapped for Whittaker in Hard Eights, Sliders Deal

Columbus, Ohio, USA – The first waiver period of the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season saw the SoCal Hard Eights make the sole move, claiming Roscoe Bellamy from the Columbus Sliders. Bellamy had replaced CJ Klinger at MLP Columbus, where he went 4-6 and helped the Sliders achieve a 3-2 match record.

The Hard Eights' bid for Bellamy resulted in Ivan Jakovljevic being sent to Columbus. However, the Sliders chose to waive Jakovljevic and instead added newly contracted pro Ross Whittaker to their roster. Whittaker had previously filled in for the Carolina Hogs as an on-site alternate at MLP Columbus.

While league rules typically wouldn't allow claiming a player signed after March 2 on waivers, MLP made an exception for Whittaker. This was done because he was signed on May 2 and lives in Columbus, aligning with the league's goal for teams to build fanbases in their local markets.

Following these transactions, the updated rosters are: SoCal (Blaine Hovenier, Roscoe Bellamy, Ryan Fu, Judit Castillo, Irina Tereschenko, Lauren Hidalgo-Smith) and Columbus (Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Ross Whittaker, Parris Todd, Lea Jansen, Marcela Hones). Premier Waiver Period #2 is scheduled for early June after MLP Daytona Beach.