IPA Nationals, Melbourne Cup, PPA Lakeland
Good morning, pickleballers!
It's the weekend once again and we have lots of pickleball news for you today, including the latest from PPA Australia and the Melbourne Cup, the draw for PPA Lakeland, the Indian Nationals and more.
IPA Nationals 2025: Next Generation Shines as Maharashtra and Karnataka Dominate Titles
Bengaluru, India – The IPA Nationals 2025, India’s inaugural PWR2000 World Ranking Event, concluded with dominant performances across multiple age groups, setting new benchmarks for the sport while focusing on sustainability. Hosted at The Sports School in Kanakapura/Bengaluru, the championships brought together India's strongest field of pickleball talent, ranging from the U12 category up to the 60+ divisions.
Maharashtra stars claimed top honours in the Open Singles divisions, securing two major titles. Arjun Singh from Maharashtra demonstrated his trademark power and precision to capture the Open Men’s Singles crown, defeating Gujarat’s Aman Patel 15–6. Following suit, Mihika Yadav, also representing Maharashtra, secured her maiden Open Women’s Singles title with a commanding 15–4 victory over fellow Maharashtrian Aaliya Ebrahim, riding the momentum from her recent Pickleball World Cup bronze medal in Florida.
The tournament showcased India’s rising junior talent on Children’s Day. Trilok Sundaresan clinched the U12 Boys title (15–6 over Veer Chung), while Veer Shah (Gujarat) won the U14 Boys Singles final against Panth Thakkar (15–9). Tamil Nadu’s Maanasi Karthik stunned the crowd to win the U14 Girls Singles title (15–7 over Joanna). In doubles, the mixed Gujarat-Delhi duo of Kiaan Contractor and Aariv Raj Khanna secured the U16 Boys Doubles title (15–8), and Maharashtra’s eight-year-old Veer Chung paired with 12-year-old Praathnaa Motiani for a dominant U12 Mixed Doubles victory.
Host state Karnataka impressed in the Master’s categories, with Sharmada Balu and Prerana Pratap winning the Women’s Doubles 30+ (15–12), and the trio of Umme Salma, Neha Arora N, and Shilpa Sham clinching the 40+ Women’s Team title (2-0 over Telangana).
Crucially, the Nationals serve as a pathway to global competition, with Chief National Coach Dhiren Patel confirming that ten Indian players will be selected for the US Open 2026. Patel praised the rising skill, noting the influx of former tennis and badminton players. Furthermore, the event was hailed as India's "Greenest Pickleball Gathering", opting for 16 durable, acrylic courts built on site to avoid transportation costs and fuel expenses, and running entirely paperless through digital scheduling and scorekeeping. The venue’s location outside the city also thoughtfully addressed sound pollution concerns.
Championship Sunday Set in Melbourne After Gruelling Semifinals
Melbourne, Australia – The Melbourne Pickleball Cup has reached its climax, with Championship Sunday slated to feature a full schedule of intense medal matches following three days of fierce competition. Close semifinals across nearly every division have cemented the field, pairing familiar rivals in high-stakes gold medal contests.
The women’s singles final pits Roos van Reek against Sahra Dennehy. Dennehy earned her spot by outlasting Andie Dikosavljevic in the semifinals (14-12, 11-5), relying on steady pace and sharp angles. Van Reek, however, had to survive a full three-game battle against Danni-Elle Townsend (8-11, 14-12, 11-8), narrowly saving late points in the second game to advance.
The men’s singles title will be contested between Hien Truong and Hoang Nam Ly. Ly delivered a composed semifinal performance against Theo Platel (11-0, 11-5), showcasing quick changes of pace. Truong’s route was more dramatic, staging a comeback after dropping the first game to Jimmy Liong (3-11, 11-8, 11-7), highlighting his defensive patience which will contrast Ly’s speed in the final.
In doubles action, the women's final features the two standout pairs of the draw: Roos van Reek and Turulja will face Danni-Elle Townsend and Nicola Schoeman. Both teams advanced with dominant 11-3, 11-4 semifinal wins. For the men’s doubles gold, the clean play of Wong and Kim will challenge Farias and Laville.
The day will conclude with the mixed doubles final, featuring four players who have dominated the weekend across multiple brackets: Wild and Townsend take on Schoeman and Mitch Hargreaves. Hargreaves and Schoeman survived a tough three-game mixed doubles test earlier in the bracket. Before the finals, the day begins with bronze medal matches, including Dikosavljevic meeting Katie Morris in women’s singles and Wall and Wild facing Brown and Fogl-Kulich in mixed bronze.
Deep Draws Threaten Favourites at Lakeland PPA Stop
Lakeland, USA – The Lakeland stop on the PPA calendar is poised for an unpredictable weekend, featuring large and deep fields across all five professional brackets. Analysts suggest the draws are shaped by depth rather than clear favourites, with early rounds featuring matchups typically reserved for later stages and several dark horses ready to unsettle the bracket.
In Men’s Singles, top seed Ben Johns faces a challenging section that includes Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett, potentially leading to a high-level Round of 16 earlier than expected. Other strong contenders like Jaume Martinez Vich, Hunter Johnson, and Jack Sock also hold positions that could result in sharp third-round contests. The bottom half is anchored by Christian Alshon, Gabriel Tardio, and Rafa Hewett, where play is expected to swing on service runs.
The Mixed Doubles field, with 64 teams, is exceptionally balanced. Anna Leigh Waters and her partner anchor the top section, while the dangerous team of Catherine Parenteau and Tyson McGuffin sits in a quadrant alongside established counterpunchers. On the lower half, Riley Newman and his partner lead a cluster filled with veteran pairings who excel when rallies turn chaotic at the kitchen line.
In Women’s Doubles, Waters and Anna Bright remain the clear team to chase, positioned in the top quarter. However, the draws suggest at least one surprise is likely to emerge from the competitive early rounds. Catherine Parenteau and Anna Bright are separated from other top seeds until the later rounds, with Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones anchoring a section built on consistency at the net.
The Men’s Doubles bracket is also deep. A high-level quarterfinal could materialise early between the partnership of Gabriel Tardio/Frazier and Connor Garnett/Ben Johns. The lower half is anchored by Riley Newman and his partner, alongside power hitters like Jack Sock and Tellez, ensuring the route to the semifinals will require winning tough matches decided by late surges and challenging kitchen exchanges. With players like Mary Brascia, Brooke Buckner, Lea Jansen, Paris Todd, and former tennis star Genie Bouchard in the Women’s Singles draw, the bracket is considered one of the most unpredictable sets of the weekend, demanding precision and endurance from the start.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Unveils 'Super Champs' Jersey for World Pickleball League
Chennai, India – Co-owner Samantha Ruth Prabhu showcased the vibrant new jersey for the Chennai Super Champs at Sathyabama University during the Chennai Open, generating significant excitement ahead of World Pickleball League (WPBL) Season 2.
The design is a stunning tribute to Tamil Nadu's heritage and Chennai’s lively sporting spirit. The jersey features an eye-catching orange-to-yellow gradient, symbolising the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal, and incorporates subtle, kolam-inspired patterns alongside bold red accents. Prabhu, the co-owner of the franchise, noted that the jersey embodies the team’s commitment to inclusivity and youth empowerment in the region.
The franchise is dedicated to boosting youth participation in pickleball, a goal aligned with the rapidly expanding scale of the sport in India. The WPBL Season 2 tournament has seen a high engagement, registering over 500 participants. Furthermore, the event boasts India's largest pickleball prize pool, offering a substantial Rs 25 lakhs. The tournament is currently underway and is scheduled to culminate on November 16. The unveiling marks a celebratory moment for the young league, demonstrating the blend of cultural identity and professional sportmanship that the Chennai Super Champs aim to foster.
USA Pickleball Nationals Begin Nine-Day Run in San Diego with Community Focus
San Diego, USA – The USA Pickleball National Championships have taken over the Barnes Tennis Center for a nine-day stretch of elite competition, featuring hundreds of top athletes from across the country. The event, running from November 15–23, showcases the sport at its highest level, including professional games (beginning November 20) and the often-overlooked adaptive wheelchair division (November 21).
Beyond the intense competitive play, USA Pickleball demonstrated a strong commitment to local community engagement. Before the official tournament start, USA Pickleball Serves hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Community Court unveiled at the Barnes Tennis Center.
This unveiling was followed immediately by a Learn-to-Play Pickleball Clinic, allowing 20–30 local youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs to be the first to use the new court. To ensure lasting impact, USA Pickleball is also donating equipment and educational resources to the Boys & Girls Clubs, fostering a continued pipeline for youth participation in the sport beyond the event itself.
Hosting the National Championships positions San Diego on the map for the rapidly growing sport, creating a substantial economic impact from the athletes and their families staying in the area for over a week. Moreover, it establishes the Barnes Tennis Center as a legitimate venue for national-level pickleball, potentially drawing more major events in the future. The mix of competitive intensity and community investment highlights USA Pickleball’s commitment to expanding access and infrastructure alongside elite play.
Content Creator Silenced: UPA Issues Cease-and-Desist to 'Sorry Not Sorry Pickleball' Analyst
[City, State Not Specified], USA – Chris Cali, the voice behind the popular YouTube channel ‘Sorry Not Sorry Pickleball,’ has been hit with a cease-and-desist letter from the UPA (United Pickleball Association), which controls the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP), effectively shutting down his irreverent tournament recap operation.
Cali’s content, known for its humour, highlights, and healthy dose of commentary often poking fun at players, was initially supported by the league. The creator detailed a contentious timeline over footage usage. After his videos were initially removed via copyright claims in late 2023, Cali negotiated a six-month deal in February 2024 to use UPA footage in exchange for promoting sponsor Pickleball Central.
Despite surviving a subsequent cease-and-desist in August 2024 and signing a fresh six-month deal under the same terms, the hammer fell in October 2025. Cali received an unexpected email stating: "Moving forward, we will no longer be permitting the use of any PPA or MLP content".
Cali maintains the decision came "entirely out of the blue". He argued that the league clearly doesn't see the value in his show, whose purpose is to bring pro pickleball to the masses through unfiltered entertainment. Cali emphasised his style is purposefully provocative, stating, "I'm not here to be neutral. I'm not here to be unbiased. I'm literally just here to have fun".
The fallout has spurred conversation within the pickleball community, with former MLP/PPA content manager Sydney Steinaker offering public support to Cali. While Cali expressed cautious optimism about finding a new path forward, the sudden termination of his access to league footage has left many fans disappointed, highlighting a perceived tension between league control and independent media voices in the rapidly growing sport.