The Report
Nations Cup day one: the outsiders lead
Good morning, pickleballers.
I said in my preview that if Asia Domestic won even one pool match at the MLP Nations Cup, it would be the result of the weekend outside the final. They won two. I also had Canada finishing second in Group A. Canada are 0-2. You can have the first call; I'll keep quiet about the second.
Also today: two new pairs of senior champions in Bolton, the truth about MLP's "rally scoring", a German team that turned down promotion, and USA Pickleball's Nationals, which start in San Diego today.
The Lead · MLP Nations Cup
Day one: Asia Domestic and Australia unbeaten as Canada slip to 0-2
After six matches at Brookhaven Country Club, Asia Domestic and Australia are the only teams on 2-0. Asia Domestic beat Europe West 3-1 and Canada 3-0; Australia beat Asia International and Europe East, both 3-1. None of the six matches needed a DreamBreaker.
The starkest number came from USA v Canada. Canada won the women's game 11-5. The USA then took the next three games 33-5, with an 11-0 in the middle, to win 3-1.
Why it matters: six matches today settle the semi-finals. USA v Asia Domestic at 21:00 London decides who tops Group A, and the semi-finals and final follow on Sunday, with the final at 20:00 London.
English Nationals · Bolton
Friday, the day the Norfolk rule broke
Barbara Capper and Sharon Tinsley won the Women's Doubles 50+ Senior Open, beating top seeds Amanda Evans and Julie Mac 11-7, 11-4 in the final. On the way they beat Anna Linton and Rochelle Penrose 15-8, which ended Linton's run of Senior Open doubles titles. They won all seven matches and conceded 33 points.
In the men's event the top seeds, Rupert Robinson and Bernie Audibert, beat Nathan Hill and Ian Marshall 11-4, 11-5. Richard Love and David Youngs, champions in 2024 and 2025, finished fourth.
Why it matters: for the first time in three years, Friday's Senior Open titles went to someone other than Linton and Love. It doesn't prove the order has changed. It proves it can.
Coaching · Scoring
Rally on Friday, side-out on Monday
MLP calls itself the league that brought rally scoring to pickleball. But under its 2026 rules all four doubles games in a match are played to 11 with side-out scoring. Only the DreamBreaker, the 2-2 singles tiebreaker, is rally-scored: to 21, win by two, and you have to win the last point on your own serve.
Why it matters: the useful question on court isn't which system you're playing. It's what losing this rally costs you. Club players can steal that one.
World Pickleball Studio
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Also new today
Germany and San Diego
The team that said no to promotion
SFD 75 2 from Düsseldorf earned promotion to the Deutsche Pickleball Liga's 1. Liga West and chose not to go up, so last season's bottom two stayed in the top division. My view: the team was probably right, and the league should write the exception into its rules.
USA Pickleball Nationals open in San Diego
Nine days at Barnes Tennis Center, 31 October to 8 November, with free general admission. Juniors, college and wheelchair players go first; the pro medals are on 7 and 8 November.
Around the game
Coimbatore
India: Coimbatore Super Smashers
Anay Patil and Danielle Jones won the 30+ mixed doubles title, beating Yamunan and Monica 11-6, 4-11, 11-6 in the final. (Times Now)
That's the Report
Six Nations Cup matches today from 15:00 London, semi-finals and the final on Sunday, and Worlds pro qualifying on Monday. Meanwhile San Diego starts handing out national titles to people who had to qualify for the privilege. Not a bad weekend to be a pickleball fan, unless you are Canadian.