Good morning, pickleballers!
Friday is here once again – incredible. Where has the week gone?
Things you might have missed yesterday…
Firstly, we have launched this month’s World Pickleball Magazine, and you can head to it on the website right away. As ever, it is nearly 150 pages long, and it is jam-packed with pickleball goodness. Don’t miss out.
Also, I got together with Gordon Watso,n and we recorded this week’s World Pickleball Podcast, which you can listen to directly below.
Here is Friday’s world pickleball news and, wow, there is a lot.
Pune United Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive in Thrilling World Pickleball League Clash
Mumbai, India – The race for the World Pickleball League playoffs intensified on Matchday 10 as Pune United secured a vital 3–2 victory over Mumbai Pickle Power, keeping their qualification dreams within reach. In a tie defined by razor-thin margins, Pune’s depth proved decisive.
Pune’s Balint Bako delivered a crucial performance in Men’s Singles, defeating Max Green 16–12, while the Women’s Doubles pair of Sarah Jane Lim and Madalina Grigoriu held their nerve to win 11–8. However, the standout performer was Mateusz Matysik, named Player of the Tie, who partnered with Vanshik Kapadia to clinch the Men’s Doubles match 10–6, sealing the overall victory for Pune.
In the day’s other matchup, the Bengaluru Jawans cemented their playoff position with a 3–2 win over the Hyderabad Super Stars. Despite a spirited effort from Hyderabad’s Seone Mendez, who won her singles match, Bengaluru’s Dusty Boyer dominated the Men’s Singles 17–6, and Eduardo Irizarry’s Player of the Tie performance in doubles ensured the Jawans took the points.
The league standings now show Bengaluru Jawans safely qualified alongside Chennai Super Champs and Dilli Dillwale. The final playoff spot remains a battle between Hyderabad Super Stars and Pune United. Pune must defeat the table-topping Chennai Super Champs on Matchday 11 to have any chance of advancing.
Royal Recruitment: Palm Beach Franchise Inks First Player Amidst Flurry of MLP Trade Activity
New York, USA – The 2026 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season is officially in motion, marked by a frenetic opening to the first trade window. In a historic move for the franchise, the Palm Beach Royals have signed their first-ever player, Sofia Sewing, who joined the league in late January. Sewing, assigned a Draft Point value of 80,000, becomes the cornerstone of the Royals, who are now eligible to acquire up to three additional players before the mid-February keeper deadline.
The trade market has been equally volatile elsewhere in the league. The Atlanta Bouncers have aggressively reshaped their roster, sending Victoria DiMuzio and cash to the Texas Ranchers in exchange for Kaitlyn Christian. Analysts suggest this is a “win-now” move for Atlanta, as Christian is currently the third-ranked women’s singles player on the PPA Tour and recently reached the mixed doubles finals at the Daytona Beach Open. While DiMuzio showed promise in her rookie season, the Ranchers may view her as a trade chip to free up cap space for a premier singles player.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Slice have made headlines by acquiring Zane Navratil from the New Jersey 5s in exchange for cash. Navratil, a high-energy player and former captain for New Jersey, is expected to bring veteran leadership to a Slice team looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign, where they missed the playoffs. This transaction also signals a strategic shift for New Jersey, who are expected to use the influx of cash to pursue a male singles specialist to complement their core of Will Howells and Noe Khlif. With the trade window closing on February 15, teams are scrambling to finalise their lineups.
League Shakeup: MLP Announces Contraction to 20 Teams and Dissolution of Challenger Level
New York, USA – Major League Pickleball (MLP) has unveiled sweeping structural changes ahead of the 2026 season, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape of the sport. The league confirmed on Thursday that three franchises—the New York Hustlers, Nashville Chefs, and D.C. Pickleball Team—will not compete in the upcoming season. In a significant consolidation move, the Hustlers are merging with the Brooklyn Pickleball Team, while the Nashville and D.C. franchises have been granted time to explore sale agreements.
Consequently, the players who finished the 2025 season on these rosters, including notable names like Rafa Hewett and Stefan Auvergne, have been returned to the free agency pool and will be eligible for the draft scheduled for late February. Perhaps the most impactful change for fans and players alike is the elimination of the tiered system. The “Premier” and “Challenger” levels have been dissolved, meaning all 20 active teams will now compete in a single, unified tier.
Under the new regulations, every team must carry a six-player roster. To facilitate this expansion, former Challenger teams like the Las Vegas Night Owls and Florida Smash are now permitted to trade cash for players, a mechanism previously unavailable to them. The season structure has also been revamped; regular season events will feature split groups, ensuring every franchise plays a total of 23 group play matches leading up to the finals. With the trade window closing on February 15 and the Free Agency Draft set for February 27, front offices face a critical month of decision-making.
Continental Ambitions: Aditya Khanna Appointed to Spearhead Asian Pickleball Growth
New Delhi, India – The Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) has appointed Aditya Khanna as the new Asia Continental Director, a move signalling a robust push to establish Asia as a dominant force in the sport. Khanna, who currently serves as the CEO of the Indian Pickleball Association and Secretary of the Asian Pickleball Association, brings a wealth of administrative experience and a background in competitive tennis to the role.
Khanna’s election to the GPF Board is viewed as a strategic step toward aligning Asian pickleball with global standards. In a statement following his appointment, Khanna emphasised his dual mission: strengthening international collaboration and advancing the sport’s bid for Olympic inclusion. “A key priority will be bringing world-class pickleball events to Asia and India, and ensuring the continent plays a significant role in shaping the sport’s global future,” Khanna stated.
His roadmap for the continent includes hosting high-profile events in major markets, including China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Khanna noted that these nations have demonstrated rapid growth in both participation numbers and competitive standards. By establishing a circuit of world-class tournaments, he aims to transform Asia into a commercial and competitive hub for pickleball. This appointment reinforces the GPF’s commitment to decentralising the sport’s power structure and cultivating talent outside of North America.
Sultanate Showdown: Brunei Picklrs Open Draws Hundreds in Celebration of Sport’s Growth
Lamunin, Brunei – The rapid ascent of pickleball in Southeast Asia was on full display this week as the Picklrs Open Showdown 2026 concluded successfully at Pickleball Lamunin. Organised by Brunei Picklrs with backing from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the three-day event attracted over 300 athletes, underscoring the sport’s deepening roots in the Sultanate.
The tournament, held from January 30 to February 1, featured fierce competition across eight categories, ranging from Novice Mixed Doubles to the highly competitive Men’s and Women’s Singles Open. Athletes vied for a share of a prize pool exceeding BND 5,000, raising the stakes for local and regional talent. Beyond the matches, the event served as a developmental hub; organisers ran concurrent coaching and refereeing programs that minted 24 new Level 1 certified coaches and five referees, ensuring the local infrastructure keeps pace with player interest.
“The tournament itself proved to be a worthwhile avenue for building competitive confidence and accelerating skill development,” noted organisers, who are already planning future initiatives focused on junior athlete development. The event concluded with a prize presentation ceremony graced by Awangku Arif bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, the Acting Tutong District Officer, signalling strong government support for the sport’s potential to drive sports tourism and economic growth in Brunei.
Paddle Diplomacy: Maryland Students and Chinese Delegation Bridge Cultures Through Sport
Rockville, USA – The second chapter of Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) innovative “Pickleball Diplomacy” initiative is officially underway. The district is currently hosting a delegation of students and staff from Shanghai for a week-long cultural exchange that blends athletic competition with educational touring. The visiting delegation’s itinerary includes tours of the University of Maryland, visits to the JOOLA headquarters, and, naturally, plenty of time on the pickleball courts.
The exchange is reciprocal; following the Shanghai delegation’s visit, MCPS Athletic Director Jeff Sullivan will lead a group of student ambassadors to China from February 13–24. The American group will visit four cities—Shenzhen, Shangyou, Hebi, and Beijing—to participate in cultural festivities surrounding the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival. “The word ‘life-changing’ continues to be used over and over again from our students,” Sullivan remarked, reflecting on the inaugural trip in 2025.
The initiative has garnered high-level attention, with the MCPS delegation previously receiving correspondence from Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledging the positive impact of their sports diplomacy. MCPS, the first school district in the country to offer pickleball as a varsity sport, sees the program as a way to foster dialogue and understanding between the two nations. To document this unique intersection of sport and international relations, a student-led media team will produce a documentary capturing the experience.
Sunshine State Standoff: Draws Revealed for Upcoming Cape Coral Open
Cape Coral, USA – The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour has released the official draws for the Zimmer Biomet Cape Coral Open, setting the stage for a week of high-stakes action in Florida. Play is scheduled to commence on Monday, February 9, at The Courts Cape Coral, with all five professional divisions—Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles—locked in for competition.
Headlining the Women’s Singles draw is Kate Fahey, who enters the tournament as the number one seed, looking to defend her top ranking against a field of hungry challengers. The release of the brackets has ignited speculation regarding potential matchups, particularly in the doubles categories where partnerships are often tested early in the season.
Fans eager to catch the action won’t have to wait long for broadcast coverage. Pickleballtv has announced that live coverage will begin on Thursday, February 12, showcasing the critical Round of 16 matches as the tournament moves toward the weekend finals. As the Florida swing of the tour heats up, the Cape Coral Open promises to be a pivotal event for players looking to accrue early-season ranking points.
Austrian Ace: Thomas Knapp Claims Historic First Wild Card on RTA Amateur Tour
Wiener Neustadt, Austria – History was made on the clay courts of Europe as the RTA Amateur Tour launched its 2026 season with a milestone event in Vienna. The tournament, hosted at the RacketRevolution facility, marked the debut of the tour and offered a coveted prize: the first-ever RTA Wild Card.
Twelve competitors battled through the draw, characterised by fast rallies and exemplary sportsmanship. In the end, local favourite Thomas Knapp of Austria emerged victorious, securing first place and the historic Wild Card slot. He was followed by Switzerland’s Marco Schmid in second place and Croatia’s Hrvoje Radić in third, highlighting the international flavour of the European amateur circuit.
The event also signalled the formal launch of the RTA Amateur Tour ranking system, a 52-week rolling ranking that covers U19, 50+, and Open Age categories. “The journey has started,” tour officials announced, confirming that participating players are now the first names listed on the official Open Age RTA Ranking. With a successful debut in the books, the RTA is poised to become a central pillar of the European competitive pickleball landscape for the 2026 season.
Global Invasion: Canadian National Pickleball League Adds Elite International Quartet
Oakville, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) is set to elevate its competitive standard significantly for the 2026 season with the acquisition of the “Global Four”—a quartet of elite international players representing four different continents. When the league launches its fourth season on May 9, it will feature top-tier talent from Asia, Europe, Central America, and South America.
The incoming stars include Aibika Kalsarieva, the #1 rated women’s doubles player in Asia; Ariana Rodriguez, ranked #3 in Central America; Maria Klokotzky, the #5 ranked European player; and Bruno Faletto, the #6 rated men’s doubles player in South America. These signings mark a departure from purely domestic competition, introducing diverse playing styles and strategies to the Canadian courts.
League officials emphasised that these recruits were identified using DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) to ensure an objective standard of elite skill. “This level of international talent validates the CNPL’s standing as a premier professional pickleball league,” stated a league representative. The integration of these global stars alongside Canada’s homegrown talent is expected to produce the most competitive season in CNPL history, challenging local players to raise their game while offering fans a preview of the sport’s global evolution.
Historic Revival: Singapore’s New Bahru Hall Reborn as Cultural Pickleball Hub
Singapore – In a striking example of adaptive reuse, the historic New Bahru Hall in Singapore has been transformed from a 1960s school assembly hall into a cutting-edge pickleball and cultural facility. Designed by local architecture firm Open Studio, the project balances the preservation of mid-century heritage with the functional demands of modern sport.
Commissioned by The Lo & Behold Group, the renovation avoided stripping the character of the space. Instead, architects retained the original deep-stained teak wall panelling and ecru mosaic flooring, integrating acoustic improvements discreetly behind existing finishes. “The result is a court that feels contemporary yet grounded,” observers noted, highlighting the juxtaposition of raw concrete columns and galvanised stainless steel fixtures against the hall’s vintage warm wood tones.
A standout feature of the renovation is the new waffle ceiling, which houses custom square metal pendant lights designed to illuminate both intense pickleball matches and community events. The venue is envisioned as more than just a sports court; it is a flexible mixed-use space intended for live performances and cultural programs, effectively weaving pickleball into the social fabric of the city. The project stands as a testament to how heritage spaces can be reimagined for contemporary recreational needs without losing their soul.
Million-Peso Matchup: PlanOut Announces Major Pickleball Open in the Philippines
Dumaguete, Philippines – The stakes for pickleball in the Philippines are reaching new heights with the announcement of the PlanOut Pickleball Open, a tournament boasting a massive ₱1 million prize pool. Scheduled for May 1 to 3, 2026, the event will take place in Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental, known as the “City of Gentle People”.
The tournament is being organised by PlanOut, an outdoor adventure ticketing app, with the dual goals of strengthening the local pickleball scene and boosting sports tourism in the region. Organisers hope the lucrative prize purse will attract visitors for multi-day stays, allowing them to experience Dumaguete’s seaside boulevards and academic culture.
Pre-registration is currently open, with official registration set to launch via the PlanOut app on April 11, coinciding with the release of “PlanOut V2,” an upgraded event-technology platform. While the specific venue within the city is yet to be confirmed, the event represents a significant investment in the sport’s growth in the Central Visayas region, promising to position Dumaguete as a key destination on the Asian pickleball map.
Blue Hens Shock the Field: University of Delaware Sweeps Virginia at Collegiate Series
Newark, USA – In a stunning upset that shook the collegiate pickleball hierarchy, the University of Delaware (UD) Blue Hens defied the odds to claim victory at the latest APP Selkirk Collegiate Series event. Entering Sunday’s knockout rounds as the #7 seed, the Blue Hens dismantled the University of Virginia’s (UVA) dynasty, defeating three separate UVA squads en route to the title.
UVA had dominated Saturday’s pool play, securing the top three seeds and looking poised for a clean sweep. However, Delaware’s run began in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 shutout of the #2 seed UVA team. They followed this with a 3-1 semifinal victory over the #3 seed, setting up a dramatic final showdown against the top-seeded UVA 1 squad. The championship match came down to a nail-biting singles tiebreaker, which the Blue Hens won 21-14, completing a historic “sweep of the sweep”.
The victory positions Delaware alongside other top performers like the University of Iowa and UConn as strong contenders for at-large bids to the upcoming National Championships. With only one regional qualifier remaining in Indiana, the collegiate landscape has been thrown wide open by the Blue Hens’ tenacious performance.
Paddle in Paradise: Vave Launches World’s First Pickleball “Playcation” in Malaysia
Penang, Malaysia – The concept of sports tourism took a leap forward this week with the launch of the world’s first pickleball “Playcation” in Penang. Organised by Vave Singapore to mark its entry into the Malaysian market, the event held on January 30 and 31 combined a competitive tournament with a curated family vacation experience.
Held at D’Plazza Mall, the event featured 13 regional teams and was timed to coincide with the “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign. Unlike standard tournaments, the Playcation included hotel accommodations, local transport, sightseeing tours, and family-oriented activities, blurring the lines between elite competition and leisure travel. “This approach is designed to appeal to families… seeking an engaging and memorable travel experience,” said Benny Gan of Vave Singapore.
The event also served as the hard launch for the Vave app in Penang. The platform is designed to professionalise amateur sports by integrating tournament registration, match tracking, and history into a single interface. Founder Varad Kumaravelu emphasized that the app aims to make sports “accessible, connected, and fun,” with plans to expand the Playcation model to destinations like Bali, Goa, and Europe.
Hull’s New Hub: “We Do Pickleball” Opens Dedicated Indoor Facility
Hull, United Kingdom – Pickleball players in East Yorkshire have a new home this week with the official opening of “We Do Pickleball,” a dedicated venue designed to facilitate year-round play. The facility features seven indoor courts, addressing a critical need for accessible, weather-proof playing spaces in the UK.
Director Matt Whitaker described the opening as a “major milestone” for the local community. “Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people can play, improve, and connect, whether they’ve picked up a paddle once or are seasoned players,” Whitaker stated. The club has hit the ground running, offering a full schedule of daily social sessions, coaching clinics, and introductory classes for beginners.
To celebrate the launch, the venue is hosting a series of special events throughout its opening week. The arrival of “We Do Pickleball” adds to the growing infrastructure of the sport in the UK, following closely on the heels of other recent venue openings, signalling a robust expansion of the British pickleball ecosystem.