Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright win Hong Kong women’s doubles final

Waters and Bright win Hong Kong women’s doubles final

Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright beat Tyra Hurricane Black and Jorja Johnson 11-6, 11-4 in the women’s doubles final at the PPA Hong Kong Slam. Times Now reported that the top seeds had been unbeaten as partners for more than 400 days before the match.

Waters also won mixed doubles with Ben Johns, defeating Bright and Hayden Patriquin 11-4, 11-3. Times Now reported that Waters did not drop a game during the weeklong tournament, held October 19-25 at Kai Tak Arena.

PPA Tour Asia sets first four events of 2027 season

PPA Tour Asia announced four PPA Asia 500 events for early 2027: the Bangkok Open from January 27-31, Manila Open from February 24-28, Penang Open from March 16-20, and Ho Chi Minh City Open from March 31-April 4. Vietnam.vn reported that Bangkok and Manila will host Tour events for the first time.

The Ho Chi Minh City stop will be Vietnam’s fifth time hosting a PPA Tour Asia event, according to Vietnam.vn. The outlet also reported that the 2027 PPA Finals are scheduled for May 10-16 at Life Time Rancho San Clemente in California, with spots for the top eight men and top eight women in the overall standings.

Ben Johns’ recent men’s doubles losses fuel debate

Ben Johns’ recent defeats have prompted online discussion about whether the dominant player has lost form. Times Now reported losses with Federico Staksrud in Arizona, Jack Sock in Chicago, and Gabe Tardio in Las Vegas and Hong Kong, while cautioning that a short run of losses does not establish a decline.

The Kitchen reported that Johns and Staksrud lost to Nico Acevedo and Yuta Funemizu in Arizona, 11-4, 11-5, and that Johns and Sock fell to Anouar Braham and Bruno Faletto in Chicago. At Hong Kong, Johns and Tardio lost the final to Staksrud and Patriquin, 11-6, 11-8.

Pickleball club expansion meets a tougher real estate market

Bisnow reported that U.S. pickleball court construction has slowed as markets become crowded with facilities, despite participation rising from nearly 20 million players in 2024 to more than 24 million last year, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 report. Public court growth in the 100 largest U.S. cities fell from 14% in 2024 to 4% in 2026, the outlet reported, citing Axios.

The Picklr filed for bankruptcy on October 9, a development Bisnow described as a warning about aggressive expansion. JLL Sacramento Senior Vice President John Brecher told Bisnow that Northern California leasing had slowed amid oversupply, as operators and investors wait to see where demand is strongest.

MLP brings a Houston franchise back for 2027

Major League Pickleball reinstated the Houston Hammers for the 2027 season, bringing the league to 21 teams. Times Now reported that Hugh Zhang will own the franchise, which returns professional team pickleball to Houston after the team did not compete in 2026.

The franchise previously competed under several names, including Team Clean and Nashville Chefs. Times Now reported that the new ownership plans to pursue an MLP event in Houston in 2027 and field senior and junior teams.

Anna Leigh Waters meets Filipino fans at Decathlon showcase

Decathlon Philippines hosted Anna Leigh Waters at an Asia Showcase on October 13, 2026, where fans met the player and her coach and mother, Leigh Waters, and had paddles and photo cards signed. Wazzup.PH reported that 11-year-old Gabe Ocampo played an exhibition point with Waters.

Waters encouraged people to try pickleball, describing it as inclusive and welcoming. The showcase also featured Franklin Sports and a preview of a mystery paddle planned for a future launch, Wazzup.PH reported.

Agassi and Graf extend their racket-sports careers into pickleball

Andre Agassi partnered with JOOLA on a pickleball paddle and accessories collection announced in August 2024, and Steffi Graf joined the collaboration with her own signature paddle in January 2025, The Times of India reported.

JOOLA introduced a paddle donation initiative in 2025, pledging to donate one paddle for each Agassi and JOOLA collection paddle sold through its website. The Times of India reported that the program is called Let’s Play!

Lang Son court employees compete in women’s pickleball tournament

The Lang Son Provincial Two-Level People’s Court held a 2026 women’s pickleball tournament for court employees, drawing 28 players, Báo Công Lý reported. Organizers said the event was intended to encourage exercise and strengthen ties among staff.

The organizers awarded a Style Award to Nguyễn Minh Huyền and Tạ Phương Trang of Regional Court No. 1, according to Báo Công Lý.

Vietnam tournament organizers plan first Tien Phong Newspaper Cup

Tien Phong Newspaper and the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association are organizing the first Tien Phong Newspaper Cup pickleball tournament for November 15, 2026, at Swin Pickleball Court in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam.vn reported that about 400 players are expected across four divisions.

The divisions are men’s doubles under 40, men’s doubles over 40, mixed doubles under 40 and mixed doubles over 40. The tournament is being held to mark the newspaper’s 73rd anniversary and the conclusion of the association’s first congress for its 2026-2029 term, Vietnam.vn reported.

Hong Kong tournament sparks discussion of rankings and playing conditions

The Dink reported that analysts Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty discussed the Hong Kong event’s surface, singles and doubles, and current player form on the Pickle Pod. They said the slower, lower-bounce surface could disadvantage hard hitters and benefit players who extend rallies.

The Dink also reported that the event used the Lifetime ball powered by JOOLA. The outlet’s recap said the event awarded 1,500 points, the same as a Cup, despite being called a Slam.

Pickleball charity tournament funds homes and bicycles in Gia Lai

Organizers of the fourth Bi Village Quarry Cup tennis and pickleball charity tournament handed over two homes to families in Gia Lai province on October 29, Vietnam.vn reported. Each home was valued at 110 million Vietnamese dong.

The tournament committee has raised more than 2 billion dong in cash and donations, Vietnam.vn reported. The funds have supported 11 homes for veterans’ families and low-income households, as well as 400 bicycles for children in the province.

Japanese TV program features pickleball training and exhibition matches

A Japanese television program scheduled for October 30 features actor Hiroe Igeta training in pickleball with Shuzo Matsuoka and table tennis gold medalist Jun Mizutani, according to WEBザテレビジョン and 毎日キレイ. The program preview said Igeta and Mizutani would play three matches against stronger opponents.

The previews also said professional pickleball player Yuta Funamizu would coach the pair on a spin shot. Daigo Nishihata said his fellow group member Joichiro Fujiwara often borrows a court to play pickleball, WEBザテレビジョン reported.

Pickleball costume contest offers prizes

The Dink and DUPR are holding a Halloween costume contest with Sqairz, Centerline and the College Pickleball Tour. The Dink reported that three winners will receive prizes.

Entrants are asked to send their costume photo to DUPR, with a voting post planned after Halloween, The Dink reported.

Training guide recommends shoulder and upper-back exercises

The Dink recommends two exercises for pickleball players working on their two-handed backhand: the open book for upper-back rotation and side-lying weighted external rotation for shoulder stability. The outlet suggests two sets of eight open-book repetitions on each side and doing the exercises two to three times a week.

The Dink reported that limited upper-back rotation can lead players to muscle shots with their arms or take the ball late. It said a strong rotator cuff can help stabilize the paddle arm on fast balls.

Pickleball tip: judge whether a ball will land out

Pickleball Pickler advises players not to hit every reachable ball, and to assess a shot’s trajectory, speed and height before deciding whether to play it. The guide says a hard drive near shoulder height from close to the kitchen line may be headed out.

The guide also recommends watching opponents’ shot patterns and accounting for wind during outdoor play.