BY CHRIS BEAUMONT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
From the high-stakes equipment “paddle wars” in the United States to the glamour of the World Pickleball League in India and the sport’s rapid expansion across Europe and Asia, the month of January was defined by record-breaking investments, celebrity crossovers, and a shifting competitive hierarchy.
1 January 2026: Waters Free Agent, UPA Crackdown, Bar Switches Brands: Pickleball’s 2026 Fault Lines – In Austin, Dekel Bar shocked the industry by parting ways with JOOLA to join 11Six24 as their first UPA-signed professional. Over in Dallas, the UPA issued a massive $50,000 fine and suspension to Parris Todd for participating in an unauthorised exhibition. In Ho Chi Minh City, Phuc Huynh reflected on a breakout year and set his sights on further growth for Vietnamese pickleball. In Delray Beach, Anna Leigh Waters officially became a free agent as her long-standing contract with Paddletek expired.
3 January 2026: Duong Farewell, Italy Votes, and Europe Sets Sights on 2026 Open – In St. Anton am Arlberg, the RTA Pickleball Tour celebrated a digital transformation through a new partnership with Tournated. In Cincinnati, the Kawamoto sisters’ stunning comeback against Waters and Bright was voted the “Best Match of the Year 2025.” In Siena, a public vote has been launched to crown the country’s top players following a year of explosive growth. In Milton Keynes, the Pickledilly Circus Winter Cup showcased high-calibre talent across mixed and ladies’ doubles. In Hanoi, Sypik Avatar announced an emotional end to their partnership with star player Quang Duong. In Prague, registration opened for the WPC Czech Open at the TK Sparta Praha complex. Finally, in Antalya, the European Pickleball Federation confirmed the city will host the 2026 European Open.
4 January 2026: China Invitational, India Doctors, Waters Rankings & UPA Drama In Luzhou, the National Champions Invitational concluded the 2025 season, highlighting pickleball’s role in Chinese urban development. In Vadodara, over 50 medical professionals traded stethoscopes for paddles at the “Clinics to Courts” season opener. In Salt Lake City, the PPA released final 2025 rankings, confirming Anna Leigh Waters as the undisputed world number one. In London, tennis legend David Lloyd is being sued by his former company over the branding of his new leisure venture. In Dallas, the UPA officially denied the appeal of players whose contracts were terminated for travelling to Japan. In Vilnius, the Lithuanian Federation targeted record participation numbers for their upcoming 2026 Open. In Lisbon, the Portuguese association launched a new professional digital presence on LinkedIn.
5 January 2026: Johns Under Pressure as PPA Rankings Tighten and WPC Masters Begins In Salt Lake City, PPA rankings revealed Ben Johns is under pressure at the top spot, with Hayden Patriquin closing the gap. In Hainan, the World Pickleball Championship Masters kicked off with a colourful opening ceremony. In Tokyo, the Japan Pickleball Association released its first-ever national ranking system to professionalise the domestic sport. In Brisbane, Simone Kessell renewed her contract as a JOOLA ambassador following a dominant season. In Richmond, the USLPL issued a last call for athletes to join the Combine for the new 35+ professional league. In Tsu City, the APP announced it will host its first-ever tournament in the country this coming February. In Rancho Mirage, the “Paddle Wars” began with Anna Leigh Waters leaving Paddletek, sparking intense sponsorship speculation.
6 January 2026: Italy Names 2025 No. 1s as PPA Asia and MLP Set 2026 Stage In Siena, Alberto Seccia and Vittoria De Pasquale were crowned the top-ranked players in the country. In Austin, analysts released bold predictions for 2026, including Nick Kyrgios potentially joining the pro tour. In Orlando, Major League Pickleball announced its regular-season finale will be hosted at Disney World. In Yamanouchi, former champion Daniel Moore is using pickleball to revitalise rural tourism. In Hanoi, the PPA Tour Asia unveiled an aggressive new schedule starting in the Vietnamese capital. In Munster, registration opened for the 2026 Open with strict new DUPR entry guidelines. In Mumbai, a new study estimated that up to 120 million people globally have tried pickleball. In Manila, SM Supermalls confirmed it now hosts 61 courts across its properties. In Carvoeiro, registration opened for the PEAK Portugal Pickleball Masters. Also in the US, pros like Eric Oncins and Dekel Bar announced major equipment switches. Finally, in Vietnam, a record-breaking junior tournament gathered 450 young athletes.
7 January 2026: France Coaching Push, WPC Hainan Results, and Pickleball Power 50 In Trets, the Federation Pickleball France announced new IPTPA certification sessions to boost coaching standards. In Hainan, the WPC Masters Series opened with Hong Kit Wong and Louis Laville claiming top honours in the elite divisions. In Canberra, the Australian Masters Cup opened club registrations for the new season. In Tokyo, Yuta Funemizu was crowned MVP at the inaugural Pickleball Awards Japan. In Melbourne, tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner are set for a unique pickleball exhibition. In Salt Lake City, Parris Todd broke her silence regarding her suspension, citing a misunderstanding of contract terms. In the Japanese capital, neon-lit indoor courts are transforming pickleball into a trendy urban social activity. In Riyadh, a report projected the local market could hit $300 million by 2033. In Győr, the inaugural Pannon Cup was announced for April at the Olympic Sports Park. In Austin, The Kitchen revealed ranks 50-46 of the most influential people in the sport. In Dallas, Vivienne David announced her retirement from professional competition. Finally, in Manila, Steve Kuhn urged the Global Federation to adopt rally scoring.
8 January 2026: Power 50 Rankings, US Open Lottery, Australia Season Opens In Canberra, the 2026 tournament season kicked off with a packed schedule of Tier 1 events. In Hainan, Sarah Dennehy and Hong Kit Wong dominated the 5.0 brackets on Day 2 of the WPC Masters. In Ahmedabad, the country’s first exclusive senior championship was announced for the Republic Day weekend. In Dallas, Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine revealed his obsession with the sport. In Austin, the “Power 50” list continued with influencers driving infrastructure and governance. In Naples, the US Open announced dates for its 10th-anniversary athlete lottery. Also in Austin, actor Zac Efron stunned onlookers with his advanced skills at a downtown club. In Hyderabad, court infrastructure has exploded tenfold in just one year. In Mandaluyong City, Team Sypik Philippines secured a new home base at Tela Park.
9 January 2026: PPA Season Opens at Carvana Masters as Rohrabacher Signs In Toronto, a floating pickleball court is set to debut on an indoor lake at the International Boat Show. In Palm Springs, Friday Pickleball announced the signing of pro Rachel Rohrabacher as their first sponsored athlete. In Austin, the Texas Ranchers appointed Michael Loyd as Head of Development for their academy. In Rancho Mirage, the PPA Tour season is poised to launch with shaken-up partnerships and a surge of young talent.
10 January 2026: Waters Joins Franklin as WPC Masters Crown Global Champions In Rancho Mirage, Anna Leigh Waters signed a historic long-term partnership with Franklin Sports. In Hainan, the WPC Masters Series concluded with global winners including Pini Lee and I Gusti Ngurah Alit Putra Haribawa. In Tokyo, two major federations agreed to merge to strengthen the nation’s Olympic bid. In Freetown, a Sierra Leonean athlete sold family land to fund his team’s travel, only to face heartbreaking logistical delays. In California, draws were released for the Carvana Masters, setting the stage for the season opener. In Dallas, the PPA and MLP reported record-breaking revenue and viewership growth for 2025. Back in Rancho Mirage, a “silly season” of sponsorship changes saw pros like Yuta Funemizu and Dekel Bar debuting new gear. In Austin, Drew Brees and Steve Kuhn were highlighted in the latest “Power 50” rankings. In Mumbai, the World Pickleball League partnered with Swiggy Scenes for ticketing.
12 January 2026: APP Final Rankings Set 2026 Stage as PPA Masters and WPC Málaga Loom In Fort Lauderdale, Kyle Koszuta and Ryler DeHeart proved resilience trumps perfection with a gritty run at the APP Open. In Palm Springs, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns prepare to defend their titles at the season-opening Masters. In Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University triumphed at the collegiate qualifier. In Chicago, the APP released final 2025 standings to close the book on a historic season. In Málaga, registration opened for the WPC Series event at the iconic Martín Carpena Arena. In Chennai, Rashein Samuel delivered a masterclass to win the singles title at the Team 16 Power Play.
13 January 2026: Gabe Tardio Joins Facolos as WPBL Secures Eurosport, PPA Masters Open In Hanoi, World No. 2 Gabe Tardio signed a major deal with Vietnamese brand Facolos. In Kansas City, Friday Pickleball partnered with YouTuber “ThatPickleballGuy” to challenge industry giants. In Kolkata, a record-breaking championship is preparing to host over 344 players. In New York, the Delrays were crowned champions of the inaugural U.S. Legends League. In Palm Springs, top seeds faced a tense “waiting game” as the PPA Masters brackets were revealed. In Toronto, the Pickleplex was selected to host the 2026 National Championships. In Beijing, the PCL launched a “Rising Stars” program to develop elite youth talent. In Punta Gorda, a 14-year-old prodigy and a retiring veteran headlined the PPA Challenger Series. In Sheffield, football legends backed the launch of new sportswear brand Third Shot. In Melbourne, the AO Pickleball Slam announced its return with a unique team format. In Paris, the WPBL secured a massive broadcast deal with Eurosport to reach 70 million homes. In Sutherland, nearly 500 players braved the heat for a community tournament. In Cardiff, the Welsh Pickleball Club League detailed its new national structure.
13 January 2026: MLP Challenger Stars, Waters’ Nike Deal, and New Pickleball Hubs In Austin, end-of-season statistics highlighted the dominant partnerships of the MLP Challenger level. In Rancho Mirage, Anna Leigh Waters debuted her historic Nike apparel deal at the PPA Masters. In Hainan, a new elite academy is being built to transform high-performance training in China. In Derby, the Cumberland Storm won the inaugural Northern League Finals in a dramatic dreambreaker. In Sydney, the International Convention Centre unveiled eight courts on its iconic Event Deck. In Cleveland, Park Place Technologies was named the official IT partner for the PPA and MLP. In Ottawa, Ryan Hanes was appointed as the new Director of Competitions for the national body. In Bangkok, the WPC announced the return of the Asia Open for March 2026.
14 January 2026: APP Expands 2026 Senior Tour, PPA Masters Deliver Early Shocks, and DUPR Launches AI Video Ratings In Seattle, the APP announced a ten-stop tour for senior professionals anchored by the AARP Open. In Rancho Mirage, an Australian underdog stunned the No. 3 seed in a massive upset at the PPA Masters. In Delray Beach, DUPR partnered with PB Vision to launch AI-powered video ratings. In Ho Chi Minh City, Facolos became the official paddle partner of the PPA Tour USA. In Dallas, Major League Pickleball unveiled a return to group play and flexible lineups for the new season. In Vasvár, the Hungarian season is set to kick off with a festive Carnival Cup.
16 January 2026: Paddletek Reloads, Palm Springs Thriller, New Pickleball Code In the USA, Paddletek signed stars Zane Navratil, Connor Garnett, and Riley Newman to rebuild its roster. In Palm Springs, Kate Fahey and Federico Staksrud saved five match points to win a classic Round of 16 encounter. In Lakeville, the Indoor National Championships prepared for high-speed action with Hunter Johnson as the top seed. In London, a junior academy is helping young players “find their tribe” away from screens. In Toronto, Game+ extended its exclusive broadcast rights for the Canadian National Pickleball League. In Tunbridge Wells, Jack MacGregor was named the first MVP of the Premier Pickleball League season. In Khao Yai, Thai football president “Madam Pang” made her fashionable debut on the court. In Hanoi, PPA Tour Asia partnered with ANCHOR Sports to conquer the Chinese digital market. In Sydney, the local tour integrated into the unified global ranking system. In Manila, the Luzon Open prepared to crown junior champions at The Dink Lab. In Melbourne, a new national code of behaviour was unveiled to protect the spirit of the game.
20 January 2026: Australia 24K Milestone as Quang Duong Rumours Swirl In Canberra, Pickleball Australia celebrated surpassing 24,000 members. In Stratford, NHL champion Adam McQuaid is launching a massive indoor facility. In Manila, the PPL Luzon Open kicked off with “full throttle” energy. In Palm Springs, Anna Leigh Waters won her 40th Triple Crown as rumors swirled about Quang Duong’s return to the tour. In Shrewsbury, Olympian Gail Emms visited to inspire local players. In Lakeville, Parris Todd returns to competition as the tour braves the Minnesota chill. In Stourbridge, Pei Chuan Kao starred in an exhibition to open a new venue. In Mumbai, the Bengaluru Jawans are eyeing a repeat title as the World Pickleball League prepares to launch.
21 January 2026: Selkirk Investment, Pakistan DUPR, WPBL Sony LIV Deal In New York, Selkirk Sport secured a $30 million investment to fuel global expansion. In Islamabad, the national federation officially adopted the DUPR system to standardise competition. In Dallas, pro Roscoe Bellamy outlined the six essential shots for the modern game. In Mumbai, the World Pickleball League signed a streaming deal with Sony LIV to reach digital audiences.
22 January 2026: Injuries, Returns, and Rule Trials Set the Tone for Pro Pickleball In Lakeville, rising star Will Howells was forced to withdraw from the Indoor Nationals with an ankle injury. In Sydney, the upcoming PPA tour opener promises fully dedicated courts for the first time. In Salt Lake City, the Challenger Series announced it will trial narrower singles courts to increase rallies.
23 January 2026: Teen Upset Shocks Indoor Nationals as WPBL and Humana Cup Grows In Lakeville, a 14-year-old prodigy shocked the world by defeating the No. 2 seed at the Indoor Nationals. In Fort Lauderdale, the Humana Cup announced a nationwide tour for senior pros. In Chennai, the PRC Battleground drew top talent for a PWR 200 event. In Austin, The Kitchen unveiled the top 50 power brokers shaping the sport’s future. In Mumbai, the World Pickleball League kicked off with a celebrity showdown featuring Bollywood stars. In Rancho Mirage, a new strategy debate emerged suggesting underdogs should abandon dinking for pure aggression.
24 January 2026: Indoor Nationals Semis, Haworth No. 1, Pickleball TV Breakthrough In the United States, Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright stormed into the semifinals of the Indoor Nationals. Also in the USA, Chris Haworth overtook Hunter Johnson to become the new World No. 1 in singles. In Mission Hills, a CBS broadcast set a new viewership record, outperforming the NBA and Premier League. In Northern Ireland, a new generation is revitalising the sport beyond the retirement demographic. In West Palm Beach, the World Pickleball Convention announced plans for a massive 2026 event.
25 January 2026: PPA Championship Sunday, WPBL Season 2, and Pickleball 3rd Strategy In Austin, experts unveiled a “three-drop” strategy to revolutionise amateur play. In Minneapolis, freezing temperatures outside contrasted with heated competition on Championship Sunday. In Melbourne, presenter Tony Jones laughed off a dramatic on-court fall during a live broadcast. In Winnipeg, The Picklr opened its first Canadian headquarters to a frenzy of demand.
26 January 2026: PPA Minnesota Finals, WPBL Season 2 Preview, Global Pickleball News In Lakeville, first-time partners Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio overcame illness to win gold. In Prague, the Hungarian delegation stormed the podium with multiple medals at the Czech Open. In Mumbai, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu dazzled fans with her skills at a local tournament.
27 January 2026: WPBL Season 2 Opens with Bengaluru, Chennai Wins and Mumbai Watch In Mumbai, the Bengaluru Jawans and Chennai Super Champs delivered crushing wins on opening night. In Cadiz, two young entrepreneurs are transforming the local racket sports scene. In Dallas, John Cincola unveiled five golden rules for court mastery. In Kent, Paddletek and Pickleball Central launched an exclusive small-batch paddle. In Austin, DUPR identified the top singles players by continent. In Tucson, a teenage sensation medaled in all three events at the PPA Challenger. In Marcq-en-Barœul, French stars defended their home turf at the Winter Open.
28 January 2026: WPBL Season 2 Begins Amid PPA Upsets and New APP Pathway In Lakeville, frostbite and fever defined a tournament where Hunter Johnson reclaimed his crown. In Chennai, Boopathy Sakthivel and Anish Froilan seized the title at the PRC Battleground. In Scottsdale, winners of the reality show ‘Paddle Battle’ earned a golden ticket to the pro tour. In London, TOPSERIES launched a new premier circuit for the EMEA region. In Mumbai, the World Pickleball League season exploded onto the scene with high stakes and celebrity glamour.
29 January 2026: Dilli and Hyderabad Win in Mumbai as PPA, Carvana Announce New Award In Mumbai, matches were held behind closed doors as a mark of respect during Day Two of the league. In San Clemente, Carvana and the PPA launched a search for community leaders with a vehicle prize.
30 January 2026: Chennai Super Champs Top WPBL as Rossetti Twins Break Record In Mumbai, the Chennai Super Champs surged to the top of the league standings with a dominant performance. In New Delhi, the Rossetti twins broke a world record by completing 113 consecutive volleys in one minute.
31 January 2026: WPBL Results, MLP Trades, and Global Pickleball Power Shifts In the USA, Jack Munro signed a deal with low-noise paddle pioneer OWL Sport. In Mumbai, Armaan Bhatia retained his spot as India’s number one player. Also in the Indian city, Aditya Khanna was named Asia Director for the Global Pickleball Federation. In Dallas, the Chicago Slice acquired Hunter Johnson in a blockbuster trade. Also in the Texan city, teams faced tough keeper decisions ahead of the deadline. In Mumbai, Mihika Yadav cemented her status as the country’s top female player. In Edinburgh, the Scottish Open unveiled its schedule for a massive spring showdown. In Dallas, rising star Sofia Sewing signed a UPA deal to enter the draft pool. Finally, in Mumbai, the Chennai Super Champs extended their unbeaten streak in the league.
If you enjoyed this article, you can download the whole beautifully designed magazine here.