McGuffin & Oncins Shock Malaysia Cup as MLP Cup Details Released
Good morning, pickleballers!
It's the start of a new week once again - and we have all the latest pickleball news for you.
Tournaments across the world reached their conclusions yesterday, and we can bring you many of the results.
Personally, I was at the Premier Pickleball League in England on Sunday watching our Pure Pickleball team compete - we finished the day one for one, losing to Team Skechers 4-2 and then beating Surrey Smash 4-2 on the showcourt. Our current season is two for two so far, not bad for our first season.
Anyway, what's been happening globally?
McGuffin and Oncins Stage Epic Upset as Panas Malaysia Cup Showcases Global Pickleball Power
Shah Alam, Malaysia – The PPA Tour Asia Panas Malaysia Cup 2025, which concluded on Sunday, September 28, in Shah Alam, Selangor, delivered a spectacular display of top-tier pickleball, highlighted by stunning upsets and gold medals for several global stars. Christian Alshon, Kaitlyn Christian, and Ben Johns were among the favourites who took home hardware, but the Men’s Doubles final provided the greatest drama.
Underdogs Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins shocked top seeds Ben Johns and Christian Alshon in a thrilling three-game match, winning 2-1 (11-5, 13-15, 11-9). The final, held in Kuala Lumpur, saw McGuffin and Oncins storm through the first game, before the reigning favourites Johns and Alshon forced a gruelling second game, saving multiple championship points to win 15-13. The deciding third game was played at an electrifying pace before the underdogs converted their final championship point for the major breakthrough. Zane Navratil and Armaan Bhatia secured the Men's Doubles bronze medal.
In Men’s Singles, Christian Alshon dominated Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit in straight games, 2-0 (11-9, 11-5), claiming the gold medal. Alshon pulled away late in the tense first game and controlled the pace in the second for a near-perfect finish. Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly secured the bronze, defeating compatriot Hien Truong 2-0 (11-4, 11-7).
The Women’s Singles gold went to Kaitlyn Christian, who defeated Australia’s Roos Van Reek 2-0 (11-4, 11-4). Christian later teamed with Chao Yi Wang to capture the Women’s Doubles title in a tight 2-0 (11-6, 14-12) victory over Nicola Schoeman and Danni-Elle Townsend. The final gold of Championship Sunday, Mixed Doubles, saw Ben Johns and Anna Bright dismantle the pairing of Alshon and Christian 2-0 (11-2, 11-3), racing out to an 8-0 lead in the first game in a display of talent and precise play.
The tournament also provided valuable experience for local talents, including Malaysia’s top-rated women’s player, Athilla Miasara Azizul Azhar, who admitted the competition—including matches against Anna Bright and Roos Van Reek—was a “harsh reality check”. Despite early round losses, Azhar, a former professional tennis player, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to face world-class opponents, noting that the experience highlighted her progress in the sport she only picked up in December 2023.
Vintage Victory: Staksrud, Fahey, and Johnson Siblings Rule Sacramento Open Using Throwback Paddles
Sacramento, USA – The Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open, intended to celebrate the sport’s roots, wrapped up Championship Sunday with top seeds and reunited partnerships taking home gold medals, all while competing exclusively with wooden paddles. The Argentine Federico Staksrud secured his first Men’s Singles title since January, earning revenge against No. 8 seed Gabe Joseph with an 11-8, 12-10 victory at Life Time Arden. Staksrud noted that the wooden paddles brought back a “cat-and-mouse” strategy that was comfortable for him, a shift from the faster pace of modern paddle technology. Chris Haworth earned the bronze medal in Men's Singles.
On the women’s side, top-seeded Kate Fahey triumphed in the Women’s Singles final, securing her second title of the 2025 season with an 11-5, 11-9 victory over No. 5 seed Genie Bouchard. Fahey, who is set to marry the following Saturday, expressed gratitude to her fiancée for allowing her to play just six days before the wedding. Lea Jansen took the bronze in Women’s Singles.
The doubles events saw impressive performances, often complicated by the use of wooden paddles. The former champion men's doubles partnership of JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier reunited for their first tournament of the season and immediately struck gold, defeating No. 7 seeds James Ignatowich/Augie Ge 11-6, 11-7, 11-1. This victory added to their record of ten PPA titles together from 2022-2024. Frazier observed that using wooden paddles changed the game's strategy, requiring players to make adjustments and stay disciplined.
In Women’s Doubles, No. 4 seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Lacy Schneemann claimed their first title as a pairing, defeating No. 6 seeds Jessie Irvine/Callie Smith in four games (11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2). Schneemann felt sharp and comfortable with the wooden paddle, crediting their simple strategy of "push the ball, make balls, and attack when we could" for the victory. Lea Jansen/Brooke Buckner won the bronze.
Finally, siblings Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson captured their third Mixed Doubles title of the year, overcoming a slow start to defeat No. 7 seeds Kate Fahey/Dylan Frazier 3-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5. They saved a game point in the second game to shift momentum. The bronze medal was awarded to No. 3 seeds Jessie Irvine/Gabriel Tardio after No. 9 seeds Layne Sleeth/Riley Newman withdrew before the scheduled match.
Indian Star Mihika Yadav Clinches Chennai Pickleball Crown, Eyes Global Stage
Chennai, India – India’s No. 1 women’s singles pickleball player, Mihika Yadav, secured yet another major victory, claiming the Women’s Singles title at the IPA-sanctioned PWR 1000 Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025 on Sunday. Yadav defeated Snehal Kishor Patil in straight games, 11-8, 11-4, executing her game plan flawlessly throughout the final.
The victory held deep personal significance for Yadav, a former professional tennis player who has won major tennis tournaments in Chennai previously. Winning a pickleball singles event in the city was described by Yadav as "very, very special". She credited her success to her sponsor JOOLA, her mixed doubles partner Amol Ramchandani, and the presence of her mother.
Yadav praised the tournament's location, calling the seaside facility a "stunning, stunning facility" and wishing it were a permanent structure. The win in Chennai adds to an already successful 2025 for Yadav, which includes playing in the inaugural PPA Tour Asia across Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan, as well as winning gold at the Dubai Open and bronze at the Monsoon Pickleball Championships.
Looking ahead, Yadav is set to compete in several upcoming international events, including PPA and APP tournaments, along with the state championship selections and the IPA Nationals scheduled for November.
MLP Announces Edward Jones Cup Details, Sets Stage for World Championships
Texas, USA – Major League Pickleball (MLP) presented by DoorDash has released key details for the upcoming Edward Jones MLP Cup, which is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 2, 2025, at the Brookhaven Country Club in Texas.
The Edward Jones MLP Cup serves as the opening act for the 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships. The tournament features a significant USD $50,000 prize pool and will award the first-ever MLP Cup trophy. Paying homage to MLP’s foundational principles, the competition format returns to classic pool play before advancing to single-elimination playoffs.
The league is divided into two competitive levels for the Cup:
- Premier Level: Features 17 teams split into four groups of four. Each team will play three matches, with only the top team from each group advancing to the playoff bracket.
- Challenger Level: Consists of five MLP teams and one Collegiate All-Star team, divided into two groups of three. Each team will play two matches, and the top two teams from each pool will move on to the playoff bracket.
MLP also established tiebreaker rules for pool play, starting with (1) Total matches won, followed by (2) Head-to-head matches won, then (3) Point differential of all games played, (4) Head-to-head point differential, and finally (5) Point differential against the next highest team. Additionally, a fourth game will not be played if a team achieves a 3-0 lead in a match.
JOOLA Launches Exclusive Green Paddle Design, Honouring Malaysia as Pickleball Epicentre
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Following the successful hosting of the PPA Tour Asia Panas Malaysia Cup 2025, Malaysia has been further cemented as the "pickleball epicentre of Asia" with the exclusive release of brand-new JOOLA paddle colourways. The launch, which took place on Monday at the PXP Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, was attended by pickleball luminaries and JOOLA-sponsored pros Anna Bright and Len Yang.
JOOLA, recognised as a leading brand that brings innovation and professionalism to the rapidly growing sport, has manufactured equipment chosen by top players like Bright and Ben Johns. What makes this launch significant is that Malaysia is one of the few countries selected by JOOLA to receive its very own special edition colourway: green, inspired by the nation’s colours. The rest of the Asia Pacific region will receive the pink colourway.
Ruben Nah, Co-Founder of DiNKiT, a specialist pickleball trade distributor and JOOLA-sponsored facility, announced the release at the press conference. Nah stated that the green edition paddle combines "world-class JOOLA performance with the bold, vibrant colours of Malaysia".
The new JOOLA exclusive green colourway is available now at Pro Shops and retails for RM1,319, coming complete with an edge guard and grip. DiNKiT was also a sponsor of the Tuff Seniors Classic Pickleball Tournament earlier in September.