PPA Aim for Bhatia, Radyr Boom, Pickleball Burger & More
Good morning, pickleballers!
Can you believe we are about to wave goodbye to May? Nope, me neither.
Let's see it off with the latest pickleball news, shall we?
Before you get cracking with that, though - check out this week's World Pickleball Podcast.
Chris and Gordon talk about all the latest world pickleball news - the PPL draft in England, Armaan Bhatia winning gold in the US (the first-ever APP gold for India), Thaddea Lock in Dubai and dominating Paris, preview the June World Pickleball Magazine and Chris puts Gordo on the spot with an Asia All Stars vs USA All Stars team selection!
If you want today's pickleball news to listen to, the Deep Dive is below.
Radyr LTC serves up success: Pickleball adds 50 new members and repays court investment in 6 months
Radyr, Wales – Radyr Lawn Tennis Club (LTC) has seen remarkable success by introducing pickleball alongside its tennis offerings, significantly boosting participation and finances. Facing underutilised tennis courts, the club made the decision to repurpose one tarmac court for pickleball in autumn 2023. Initially, this involved painting lines on the existing court and providing portable nets, paddles, and balls, costing around £1,000.
A new 'Pickleball only' membership was launched in Spring 2024, also incorporating the sport into regular tennis memberships. Through advertising and taster sessions, the initiative quickly took off, attracting approximately 50 new members in its first year. This rapid growth meant the initial court investment was fully repaid within the first six months.
Following this success, the club upgraded the court to be pickleball-specific with colored zones ("the kitchen") and fixed nets. Radyr LTC is now aiming for around 100 pickleball members and plans to host an Open Pickleball tournament. The club reports that pickleball is drawing a new demographic and provides a way for older tennis players to stay active and connected, ultimately complementing tennis, adding members, and enhancing the club's social events, revenue, and atmosphere.
Armaan Bhatia eyes PPA Tour after stunning Alex Crum
New York, USA – India's top-ranked pickleball player, Armaan Bhatia, achieved a significant milestone by winning the gold medal at the APP New York City Open on May 25, 2025. Bhatia defeated American player Alex Crum in the final with a score of 15-10, 27-25. This victory marks Bhatia's maiden gold medal on the APP Tour, which is considered a developmental league.
Currently ranked India No. 1 and APP Tour No. 13, the 26-year-old had a strong run in the United States, previously securing an APP Tour silver medal in Cincinnati and a US Open men's doubles bronze medal.
Following this success, Bhatia has his sights set on competing in the most competitive leagues. He stated that he is in talks with the United Pickleball Association (UPA), the governing body that oversees the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP), regarding potential playing opportunities for financial stability. Bhatia is currently an unsigned player, which affects his eligibility for the PPA Tour. His next planned event is the APP Newport Beach Open in early July.
Pickleball fever arrives in Brumado: Brazilian city hosts first-ever stage of State Championship
Brumado, Brazil – The city of Brumado is set to host a significant pickleball event this weekend, marking the arrival of the sport's state championship. Brumado will be the site for the second stage of the Campeonato Baiano de Pickleball. This is a historic occasion for the city, as it's the first time Brumado has welcomed a stage of the State Championship.
Athlete Paulo Esdras expressed the high anticipation surrounding the event. He noted pickleball's global growth and its increasing popularity in Brazil, which already boasts a Brazilian Championship. The games are scheduled to take place on Saturday (31st) and Sunday (01st) at the Clube Social de Brumado (CSB). Athletes from various municipalities have already arrived in the city. Esdras stressed the importance of the Brumado public attending the matches and providing a warm reception for the athletes. Pickleball practice is growing in Brumado, with games happening at three locations: CSB, Fadesb, and Cetib.
Burger King Japan launches "Pickleball Burger" featuring 11 pickles to celebrate sponsorship deal
Tokyo, Japan – Burger King Japan has unveiled a unique culinary creation to celebrate its new sponsorship agreement with the Japan Pickleball Federation (PJF). The fast-food chain has launched the aptly named "Pickleball Burger", a special item designed to grab attention and honour the growing sport.
The standout feature of this burger is its generous inclusion of 11 pickles, adding a distinct flavour profile. Described as a "large, American-style rice burger," it consists of three flame-grilled 100% beef patties sandwiched between special rice patties co-developed with a Kyoto rice shop. The beef, rice, and pickles are highlighted as the main ingredients.
Available for a limited time in Japan, the Pickleball Burger costs 1,790 yen (approximately $12.28 USD). This launch precedes the formal rollout of the sponsorship at events like the PJF Pickleball Japan Open in June and the PJF Pickleball Japan League Burger King Cup in August, marking Burger King's "head-first" dive into supporting pickleball in Japan. The burger's components are said to "take centre court" with every bite.
Gold Coast Slam 2025 announced with over $100,000 in prize money and MLP Australia stop
Tweed Heads South, Australia – Pickleball action is set to heat up as the Gold Coast Slam 2025 tournament was announced to take place from June 5 to June 8, 2025. Hosted at Voyager Tennis and Pickleball in Tweed Heads South, New South Wales, the event features more than $100,000 in prize money, attracting players from across Australia and New Zealand.
The Gold Coast Slam is part of the PPA Tour Australia and will also serve as the third stop of the MLP Australia season. It welcomes players of all skill levels, including professional matches, youth divisions, and senior categories. Top players in the MLP Australia Challenger and Masters Leagues will compete during high-energy afternoon matches. Registration for players and spectators is currently open. This event is a significant part of the PPA Tour Australia's 2025 season, which offers over $1 million in total prize money.
MLP Phoenix update: Utah Black Diamonds secure first win, Dallas Flash remain undefeated, and key substitutions shake up teams
Phoenix, USA – The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season is underway at the Edward Jones MLP Phoenix event, marking the fourth of ten regular season stops. Early results have delivered significant developments, including the Utah Black Diamonds earning their first victory of the season.
The Black Diamonds defeated the Atlanta Bouncers in regulation, bouncing back after losing the women's doubles match. Allyce Jones, acquired in a trade, expressed satisfaction, stating, “It definitely feels good to get one”.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Flash continued their dominant run, remaining undefeated with an 8-0 record, standing as one of only two unbeaten teams.
The event also saw notable roster changes, with key substitutions impacting teams. The SoCal Hard Eights featured 17-year-old Jalina Ingram filling in for Irina Tereschenko, and the Phoenix Flames included Alex Walker making her MLP debut in place of Genie Bouchard. These shifts added an element of unpredictability to the early matches. The Brooklyn Pickleball Team also started strong with a win over the Los Angeles Mad Drops.
PXG, the golf equipment leader, expands into pickleball with launch of XP1 and XP2 paddles
Scottsdale, USA – PXG, a global leader in high-performance golf equipment and apparel, has officially announced its entry into the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. The company has launched its first-ever pickleball paddles, the PXG® XP1TM and PXG® XP2TM. Recognising pickleball's booming popularity, particularly among golfers – nearly one-third of whom also play pickleball – PXG saw a natural opportunity to expand into this market.
PXG aims to bring its engineering expertise to the court, introducing meticulously engineered paddles designed for high-performance play. Both the XP1 and XP2 feature a polypropylene honeycomb core and a 3K woven carbon fibre hitting surface with a precision-textured finish for enhanced spin and control. The XP1 is a standard shape offering a larger sweet spot for all skill levels, while the XP2 is elongated for enhanced reach and power, targeting experienced players. These new paddles are available online and at select PXG retail locations.
TSS Pickleball at the heart of Canada's boom, installing courts across Ontario including for CNPL season opener
Oakville, Canada – TSS Pickleball, a division of Total Sport Solutions Inc., is being recognised as a central player in the booming growth of pickleball across Canada, particularly in Ontario. The company specialises in installing courts that support the sport's expanding popularity.
This summer alone marks milestones with new installations at the Trenton Racquet Club and Altea Active in Ottawa. These join a list of recent projects, including Pickleball Village in Newmarket, Dill Pickleball Club in North York, and Pickleplex Pickering. Two more facilities, Pickle X and CourtX, are also set to open in Oakville in June.
TSS Pickleball courts were notably featured at the 2025 Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) season opener hosted at Smash Pickleball in London, a premier facility with TSS-installed courts. Ian Lintott, founder of TSS, highlighted this event as a display of the sport's momentum. He added that pickleball is increasingly bringing together generations. TSS aims to deliver durable, adaptable courts for professional tournaments, private facilities, and public access.
Vulcan Pickleball acquired by Stack Athletics, set for a "fashion-forward" rebrand
Memphis, USA – Vulcan Pickleball, a notable brand known for its paddles and the official ball of the PPA and MLP tours, has been acquired by Stack Athletics and Chaifetz Group. This acquisition signals a significant move aimed at revitalising the Vulcan brand with a "fashion-forward" rebrand.
Stack Athletics is an apparel brand and a subsidiary of The Picklr, a large indoor pickleball franchise, while Chaifetz Group holds investments in various pickleball entities, including MLP's St. Louis Shock, UPA, and DUPR. According to Ross Chaifetz, Vulcan was seen as a "legacy brand" needing a "refresh".
Jeremy Nef, President of Stack Athletics, is set to lead the new venture, dubbed "Stack Vulcan". The rebrand is intended to make Vulcan the "most fashion-forward, aspirational paddle line in the sport" and for their upcoming paddles to compete with the "best of the best". Select Vulcan paddle models are currently manufactured in Memphis, Tennessee.
World Pickleball Tour Arvada offers amateurs a shot at $175k prize in Invitational Championships
Arvada, USA – Amateur pickleball players have a significant opportunity this week as the World Pickleball Tour returns to the Denver area with a tournament in Arvada, Colorado. The event is set to take place from May 30 to June 1, 2025, at the Apex Simms Street Recreation Centre.
As a national series specifically for amateur players, the World Pickleball Tour’s "challenger" events provide medal winners with a special discount to enter the 2025 WPT Amateur Invitational Championships. This national championship offers a substantial total prize purse of $175,000.
The Arvada tournament will feature a Round Robin format followed by bracket play, with players guaranteed six games. Competitors can enter based on skill levels from 3.0 to 5.0 and various age groups. This event highlights the sport's rapid growth in Colorado and across the country, aiming to give new and rising players valuable high-level experience and a pathway to significant prize money.