Good morning, pickleballers!
How is it January 6th already? We are almost a whole week into the new year – and some of us have hardly hit a ball!
Before we get cracking with today’s pickleball news, the January issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live and free to read. Explore global stories from Türkiye, Poland, Italy, Japan, India, Pakistan, and more, alongside wider coverage of governance, refereeing, and how the sport is developing worldwide.
If you enjoy it, please share it with your pickleball friends and communities. You can also follow @worldpickleballmagazine on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and many other major podcast platforms.
Seccia and De Pasquale Crowned Italy’s Best as 2025 Rankings Finalised
Siena, Italy – The search for Italy’s premier pickleball talent has concluded with the release of the definitive “PickleballSpot Italy Best Player” rankings for 2025. In a competitive landscape marked by an increasingly engaged community, Alberto Seccia and Vittoria De Pasquale have emerged as the top-ranked male and female players, respectively. The rankings reflect a quantum leap forward for Italian pickleball, which saw a surge in tournaments and player intensity throughout the year.
The selection process was rigorous, combining objective data with community engagement. Players were evaluated based on a “Total Score” that aggregated their Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) ranking and their average DUPR rating across singles and doubles. To qualify, athletes were required to participate in the final stages of major national circuits, such as the “Road to Roma” or the “Team Championship”. Alberto Seccia from Rome secured the men’s top spot with a commanding score of 706.271, bolstered by a 5.0 FITP categorisation and strong DUPR metrics. On the women’s side, Vittoria De Pasquale of Alba took the gold with a score of 612.365, edging out Francesca Rumi.
However, the competition does not end with the spreadsheet. The top eight men and women now advance to a unique knockout phase decided entirely by the public. This “final verdict” will unfold through social media polls, where fans will vote for their favourites in head-to-head matchups, culminating in a final showdown. The ultimate winners will receive the exclusive “PickleballSpot Italy Best Player 2025” kit, symbolizing their supremacy in the burgeoning Italian scene.
Crystal Ball 2026: Waters to Lose Streak and Kyrgios to Join Tour, Analyst Predicts
Austin, USA – As the 2026 professional pickleball season commences, bold predictions are circulating regarding player movements, major upsets, and celebrity crossovers. Following a tumultuous 2025 that saw contract terminations and Major League Pickleball (MLP) shakeups, analysts at The Dink have released 26 forecasts for the year ahead, suggesting the sport’s unpredictability is at an all-time high.
Perhaps the most startling prediction concerns the seemingly invincible Anna Leigh Waters. Analysts forecast that Waters, who has not lost a singles match in over 585 days, will finally suffer a defeat in 2026, citing rising talents like Kate Fahey or Seone Mendez as potential spoilers. Despite this predicted blemish, Waters is still expected to surpass the historic 200-gold-medal milestone this year.
On the men’s side, the predictions turn toward tennis crossovers. Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, known for his unconventional style, is tipped to play at least one PPA Tour event in 2026, a move hinted at by his close friend Jack Sock. Speaking of Sock, the forecast suggests the former tennis pro will secure his first-ever PPA singles title this year, having shown increased desire and capability in late 2025. Meanwhile, Ben Johns, the long-standing king of the court, is predicted to go without a singles gold medal entirely in 2026 as the “cat and mouse” game he mastered becomes obsolete in the face of faster paddle technology.
Magical Finale: MLP Selects Disney World for 2026 Season Closer
Orlando, USA – Major League Pickleball (MLP) is set to bring its 2026 season to a fairy-tale conclusion. The league has announced that its regular-season finale, presented by DoorDash, will be hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. This strategic partnership underscores the sport’s rapid ascent into mainstream athletic culture, placing pickleball on one of the most reputable sports stages globally.
Scheduled from July 30 to August 2, 2026, the event will serve as the capstone to a gruelling 13-event calendar. The stakes at the “House of Mouse” will be incredibly high; as the final stop before the 2026 MLP Playoffs, the matches in Orlando will directly determine postseason seeding. Teams are expected to compete with playoff intensity, guaranteeing “fireworks and thrilling action” for spectators at the iconic venue.
This event marks the first time the MLP has concluded its season at the ESPN complex, hinting at the potential for a long-term collaboration between the league and the sports media giant. With tickets soon to be released, the collaboration represents a significant milestone in professional pickleball’s commercial and competitive evolution.
From Pro Tours to Tour Guide: Daniel Moore’s Japanese Pickleball Mission
Yamanouchi, Japan – While many athletes dream of gold medals, former U.S. national champion Daniel Moore has found fulfilment on a different court. Moore, a pioneer of the sport who claimed nine major titles between 2014 and 2017, has successfully transitioned from a rising star in American pickleball to a cultural ambassador for the sport in Japan.
Moore faced a pivotal career choice years ago: pursue a full-time professional pickleball career or follow his passion for the travel industry. Choosing the latter, he launched “Pickleball Trips” in 2018 and began focusing on the Japanese market in 2019, a time when the sport was virtually unknown in the region. Today, his gamble has paid off. As pickleball explodes across Asia, Moore now organizes up to 30 promotional events annually, using the sport to revitalize rural tourist destinations.
Based in Yamanouchi, Moore’s tours are designed to connect international visitors with local communities through match play. His impact is tangible; Gaku Hirasawa, the mayor of Yamanouchi, noted that the town is considering constructing dedicated courts to support Moore’s growing influx of pickleball tourists. Moore’s journey highlights a unique path to professional satisfaction, blending his love for the game with his dedication to Japanese culture and tourism.
PPA Tour Asia Unveils Aggressive 2026 Schedule Starting in Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam – The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Asia is poised to dominate the 2026 calendar, announcing a high-octane start to the season with three major tournament stops confirmed for the first half of the year. The tour aims to deliver a “world-class pickleball experience,” expanding its footprint into new and vibrant territories across the continent.
The season will launch in Northern Vietnam with the MB Hanoi Cup, running from April 1–5, 2026. Hosted at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena, this event marks the tour’s debut in the Vietnamese capital, offering 1,000 ranking points to competitors. Organisers highlight Hanoi’s blend of “ancient traditions” and “modern energy” as the perfect backdrop for the season opener.
Following Vietnam, the tour moves to Malaysia for the Kuala Lumpur Open in mid-May, returning to the electric atmosphere of the “9Pickle” venue. The opening trifecta concludes in grand style with the Macao Open at the end of May. Known for its luxury and dazzling skyline, Macao will provide a “high-octane, lights-on stage” for the sport’s elite. Registration for the Hanoi opener is scheduled to begin in late January, signalling the official start of the race for the 2026 Asian rankings.
Registration Opens for 2026 Munster Open with Strict Entry Guidelines
Munster, Ireland – The countdown has begun for one of Ireland’s premier pickleball events. Organisers of the Munster Open 2026 announced that registration officially opens tonight, January 5th, at 7:00 pm sharp via the RAQT app. The tournament is expected to draw significant interest, prompting officials to issue strict guidelines to ensure a smooth entry process.
Prospective competitors are urged to update their RAQT profiles immediately, ensuring their age, gender, and DUPR IDs are correctly linked. In a move to maintain fair competition, the tournament has enforced a policy where players may only enter sections that strictly match their verifiable DUPR rating and demographic categories. Furthermore, players are limited to registering for only one event per day.
Support channels have been established for players needing to appeal their DUPR ratings, though organisers emphasised that such requests will be handled on a “first-come, first-served” basis. With the promise of “another brilliant Munster Open,” the event continues to solidify its reputation as a key fixture in the Irish pickleball calendar.
Global Pickleball Boom: 120 Million Have Tried the Sport, Study Finds
Mumbai, India – The question of just how big pickleball has become finally has a data-driven answer. A comprehensive new study released by PBClinic.com as part of the Global Pickleball Report estimates that between 80 and 120 million people worldwide have played the sport at least once. The findings aim to map participation data that has historically been uneven across different regions.
While casual participation is massive, the study identifies a core of over 22 million “active” players globally, defined as those who play at least once a year. The United States remains the epicentre of this activity, with nearly 20 million active participants recorded in 2024. However, the sport’s international footprint is deepening. Canada reports over 1.5 million players, while emerging markets like India and the Philippines are showing significant growth with approximately 60,000 and 18,000 players respectively.
Asia represents the “largest growth opportunity,” with conflicting but massive numbers coming out of the region—ranging from 60 million players in China to an aggressive estimate by UPA Asia suggesting over 800 million people across the continent have tried the game. The study provides a crucial baseline for understanding the true global reach of the phenomenon.
SM Supermalls Dominates Philippine Pickleball Scene with 61 Courts
Manila, Philippines – SM Supermalls has solidified its position as the leading hub for pickleball in the Philippines, ending 2025 with the largest inventory of courts among any mall operator in the country. The retail giant now hosts 61 court locations across 25 properties, including 37 permanent courts designed to make the sport accessible to the masses.
Recent expansions include new permanent facilities at SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa, which feature a mix of indoor and outdoor courts. This infrastructure push is part of the “SM Active Hub” initiative, described as the country’s largest sports playground. “Sports remains not just a strong interest, but a new way of life for our customers,” stated Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls’ EVP for Marketing, noting that demand has been so high that courts are fully booked.
Looking ahead, SM plans to expand its inventory to nearly 80 courts in 2026 to accommodate the “maxed-out” gatherings of both casual and competitive players,. By hosting events like the “Pickleball Super Series” and glow-in-the-dark games, the mall operator is successfully integrating the sport into the lifestyle of Filipino shoppers.
Portugal to Host RTA PEAK Pickleball Masters in April
Carvoeiro, Portugal – The European pickleball calendar has a new marquee event. Registration opens today for the PEAK Portugal Pickleball Masters, set to take place at the picturesque Rocha Brava Racquet Club from April 25 to May 3. The tournament has been officially integrated into the RTA League, ensuring top-level competition and, crucially, prize money for participants.
Spanning nine days of play, the Masters will feature a broad range of divisions, catering to both professional athletes and amateurs. The event is highly inclusive regarding age, offering categories ranging from 18+ all the way to 70+. Organisers are positioning the tournament as a destination event, encouraging international athletes to register via the RTA Pickleball Tour platform. With a promise that the event “will be one to remember,” the tournament is expected to draw significant talent to the Algarve region this spring.
The Great Paddle Shuffle: Pros Swap Sponsors as 2026 Season Begins
Austin, USA – A high-stakes game of “musical chairs” is underway in the professional pickleball equipment market. As contracts expired at the end of 2025, several top-tier athletes have announced major switches in paddle sponsorship, reshaping the industry landscape for 2026.
Among the confirmed moves, rising star Eric Oncins has left JOOLA to sign with Engage, while Dekel Bar has moved to 11six24. Other notable free agents include Rachel Rohrabacher and Gabe Tardio, who have departed Selkirk and PIKKL, respectively, with their new destinations yet to be announced.
The biggest question mark remains Anna Leigh Waters. The sport’s most dominant player is officially a free agent after her deals with Paddletek and Fila concluded. While no official announcement has been made, speculation reached a fever pitch after a now-deleted social media post from the Polo Club of Boca Raton appeared to show Waters playing with a Franklin paddle and wearing Nike shoes. If confirmed, a move to Franklin and Nike would be a seismic shift in the pickleball business world, likely triggering further sponsorship domino effects throughout the spring.
Future Stars Shine: Vietnam Hosts Record-Breaking Junior Tournament
Hanoi, Vietnam – Vietnam has successfully concluded its largest-ever junior pickleball event, signalling a bright future for the sport in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam Pickleball Open Cup (VPC) Future Stars 2026, held on January 3-4, gathered 450 young athletes from across the nation, whittled down from a massive registration pool of over 800 applicants.
The two-day competition featured 25 categories for players aged Under-10 to Under-18. The People’s Police Club dominated the medal table, securing 12 golds, while individual standout Dan Linh Huong of Sypik Pickleball Thai Nguyen captured three titles. The event not only showcased young talent but also demonstrated the sport’s spectator appeal, drawing 2,000 fans to the venue and generating over one million views online.
Organised by Youth Pioneer and Children Newspaper and New Sports, the tournament is the first step in a broader strategy to professionalise youth pickleball in the region. Following this success, organisers have announced plans to expand the VPC system to other provinces, establishing a structured competitive pathway for the next generation of Vietnamese players.