Zane Navratil Cleared, Whitwell Triple Crown & Bumrah Plays Pickleball
Good morning, pickleballers!
So much good stuff for you today.
First, if you have not downloaded your free copy of October's digital magazine, then you are missing out.
We bring you behind-the-scenes access from the European Championships, exclusive interviews with a title-winning coach and a gold medal-winning doubles pair, all the action from Asia, grassroots stories from all over the world and much, much more.
Just click here to get your issue.
Yesterday, I sat down with Armaan Bhatia - India's #1 player - to catch up on his last couple of weeks on tour, what it's like being back in Mumbai and several other topics.
You can listen to that podcast below!
And here's all the latest pickleball news from the last 24 hours across the world.
PPA Virginia Beach Cup: Higher Seeds Dominate, But Upsets Keep Draws Dynamic
Virginia Beach, USA – The Fasenra Virginia Beach Cup presented by JOOLA kicked off with a high volume of action on Tuesday, featuring a total of 100 pro main draw matches. Statistics from the opening rounds reveal that the higher-seeded player or team prevailed in 79% of those matches, demonstrating general seed integrity early in the tournament.
Men’s Singles proved to be the most predictable draw, recording the fewest upsets as the higher-seeded player won 28 out of 32 contests, resulting in an 87.5% win rate. Notable exceptions included No. 43 Eric Oncins defeating No. 21 Grayson Goldin (11-4, 2-11, 11-8), and No. 42 Tom Protzek stunning No. 19 Pablo Tellez (11-2, 11-5). Zane Navratil, seeded No. 34, also secured a victory over No. 32 Spartak Rahachou.
Upsets were notably more prevalent in Women’s Singles, where higher seeds won only 9 out of 14 matches, resulting in a 64.3% win rate. Lower seeds who prospered included No. 40 Spencer Liang, who beat No. 21 Cailyn Campbell, and No. 37 Tamaryn Emmrich, who triumphed over No. 28 Chloe Igleski.
Mixed Doubles saw a staggering 40 matches played, completing the Round of 128 and Round of 64. Higher seeds won 80% of these matchups. Significant upsets in the Round of 64 included No. 41 Victoria DiMuzio/Jack Sock defeating No. 20 Allyce Jones/Roscoe Bellamy, and Lina Padegimaite/Donald Young upsetting No. 31 Genie Bouchard/Martin Emmrich. Furthermore, No. 45 Salome Devidze/Rafa Hewett defeated the No. 23 seeds, Kaitlyn Christian/AJ Koller, in a tight three-game match.
Men’s Doubles reported a 70% win rate for higher-seeded teams. The lower seed victories included Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez/Alex Crum and No. 37 Kentaro Hamaguchi/Anouar Braham.
With the draws large and top seeds competing, Wednesday's action, which begins at 10 am ET, is anticipated to bring more intense competition.
Da Nang Thriller: New Footage Exonerates Zane Navratil After ‘Hook of the Century’ Controversy
Da Nang, Vietnam – Controversy surrounded the thrilling PPA MB Vietnam Cup semi-final after underdogs Zane Navratil and Armaan Bhatia upset tournament favourites Ben Johns and Dekel Bar with a close 11-4, 8-11, 13-11 victory. This highlight victory in Navratil’s career and a standout moment for Bhatia, who had signed a UPA contract just two months prior, helped set the stage for a World Record turnout during the following day's Finals.
The match ended mired in controversy concerning the game-winning point. The point came when Dekel Bar’s return of Bhatia's serve sailed long, landing perilously close to the baseline in front of Navratil. Navratil immediately called the ball out, a decision that led to protests from Johns and Bar, but was confirmed by the on-court referees.
Following the match, Navratil jokingly referred to the event as getting away with "the hook of the century on match point" due to the camera angle during the broadcast, which was obscured behind his back. However, this led to a "mini firestorm" of online accusations suggesting he intentionally made a false call, or "hooking".
The controversy appears settled now, as new camera angle footage has emerged which seems to exonerate Navratil entirely. Based on this footage, the ball clearly landed out. Navratil expressed frustration over the situation, stating, "It's hard not to be upset when people are delegitimising an incredible win and there's clear evidence out there".
Philippines Gears Up for PCL Asia Season 2 Qualifier with ‘Super Team’ Restrictions
SM Mall of Asia, Philippines – The Philippines, reigning champions of the Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Asia, are set to host a high-level national tournament to determine the team that will defend their continental crown. The Philippines secured the inaugural PCL Asia title in August with a convincing win over Vietnam.
Three months later, the country is preparing for PCL Philippines Season 2, the national leg that serves as the qualifier for the PCL Asia Season 2 Finals. The two-day tournament, co-organised by PCL Asia and Toby’s Sports, will feature eight elite Filipino teams competing at the SM Mall of Asia on November 15–16, 2025.
The champions of PCL Philippines will earn the right to represent the country at the PCL Asia Finals in Shenzhen, China, along with a lucrative USD $5,000 travel grant.
To ensure a level and exciting playing field, PCL Chairman Steve Kuhn confirmed that strict rules have been implemented to discourage the formation of "super teams". Kuhn explained that participating regions must list their top male and female players, and no team is allowed to include more than one player from either top list. This structure aims to balance the teams at the sectional level, making the competition "a lot more fun for all those teams to compete and have a chance to win".
Fatima Amirul and Nik Isagan, who were part of the Season 1 championship team, are already training hard and looking forward to competing for a shot at defending the PCL Asia crown.
Cricket Star Jasprit Bumrah Switches Off with Family and Pickleball
New Delhi, India – Jasprit Bumrah, regarded as one of India's finest bowling talents, utilises hobbies like pickleball and ten-pin bowling to cope with the relentless scrutiny surrounding his professional career and workload management. Bumrah has established himself among fast bowling greats due to his ability to consistently trouble batters across formats, leading Virat Kohli to call him a “once-in-a-generation player”.
However, the 31-year-old has faced persistent criticism, chiefly from former cricketers and social media users, regarding how his workload is managed. Given his history of injuries, the Indian team management has been cautious, leading to instances where he sat out key matches.
Manprit Juneja, who played alongside Bumrah for Gujarat, noted that while the criticism, particularly from former players, can be upsetting, Bumrah is "mentally strong". Juneja affirmed that Bumrah is a "thorough professional" who understands how constant public scrutiny works, assuring that comments from "a random twitter handle" do not affect him.
When the cricket star needs to completely "switch off from the game," his primary focus is spending time with his close-knit group of friends and, most importantly, his family. Beyond family time—especially since his child, Angad, arrived—Bumrah recharges by playing pickleball or ten-pin bowling. If friends are unavailable, he relaxes in his PlayStation Den.
Lee Whitwell Claims Triple Crown at 2025 APP Women's Open Focused on Cancer Research
Columbus, USA – Lee Whitwell dominated the 2025 APP Women's Open Presented by The James, achieving a spectacular triple crown over the weekend, earning her the title of "Queen of Columbus". Whitwell secured gold in three separate events: Women’s Pro Singles, Women’s Pro Doubles (alongside partner Angela Simon), and Split Age Doubles.
The Split Age gold was particularly significant for her partner, Daria Walczak, who claimed her first-ever APP gold medal by beating Shelby Bates and Cantillon Endara in the final. Walczak previously held a large collection of silver and bronze medals, making this gold a special milestone.
Other top performances included Sofia Sewing, who defeated last year's singles champion Shannon Pretorious to win her sixth women's pro singles title of the year. Sewing also earned silver in women's pro doubles with Shelby Bates, who added another silver in the split age event. Furthermore, Megan Fudge and Jill Braverman secured their fifth Women's Pro Doubles title of 2025 at the event.
The tournament also served as a major platform to highlight cancer awareness and the efforts of its presenter, The James at Ohio State. Statistics emphasised the importance of early detection, noting that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. The James, the third-largest cancer hospital in the United States, is home to over 1500 cancer researchers dedicated to creating a cancer-free world. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, The James raised $81.7 million, underscoring the collective effort to improve lives.