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August 2026 World Pickleball News Roundup: MLP Finals, PPA World Rankings and the Birth of a European Tour

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Coach Yoshi
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August 2026 World Pickleball News Roundup: MLP Finals, PPA World Rankings and the Birth of a European Tour

In August 2026, the MLP (Major League Pickleball) season came to a close. Standing at the top in New York's Central Park were the New Jersey 5s, who had lost in the final two years in a row. Off the court, the PPA Tour announced unified world rankings and a new tour in Europe, and the APP, the other pro tour, announced that it would double its pro prize money. In Asia, an American player who suffered strokes in February captured his first PPA Tour title at a tournament in Shenzhen.

I'm Coach Yoshi. Following on from the July 2026 World Pickleball News Roundup, I'll look back on world pickleball news from August 2026 through six topics. I've limited dates, scores and figures to those I could confirm through official announcements or specialist media. Events in Japan and Japanese players' runs through the draws are covered in the August Japan edition.

1. MLP Playoffs: The New Jersey 5s Win Their First League Title

At MLP Orlando (July 30–August 2, ESPN Wide World of Sports), the last event of the regular season, the two teams that had come through the group stage unbeaten met on August 2 with the No. 1 seed on the line. The New Jersey 5s beat the St. Louis Shock 3-1 to claim the No. 1 seed. The mixed doubles game in which Anna Leigh Waters and Noe Khlif edged Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin 15-13 was one that The Kitchen said "will go down as one of the best games in league history."

Twelve of the 20 teams advanced to the playoffs, which moved from Dallas in early August to Newport Beach, California, in mid-August and then to New York at the end of the month, with every round played as a best-of-three series. In the quarterfinals, the 2025 champion Columbus Sliders fell 1-2 to the Brooklyn Pickleball Team. The Dallas Flash, who won back-to-back events in July, beat the LA Mad Drops 2-1 but lost 0-2 to St. Louis in the semifinals. The Utah Black Diamonds, the team Japan's Yuta Funemizu moved to in July, missed the playoffs.

The semifinals and final on August 28–30 were held at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park. New Jersey beat Brooklyn 2-0 in the semifinals and St. Louis 2-0 in the final as well. Both matches of the final were tied 2-2 after the four doubles games and went all the way to the DreamBreaker (a singles tiebreaker in which players rotate in and out). In the first match on August 29, the 5s came back from 0-2 down in games, and in the DreamBreaker, after facing match point at 19-20, they won three straight points to take it 22-20. In the second match on August 30, they closed out the DreamBreaker 21-9.

It was the 5s' third straight trip to the final; they had lost to Dallas in 2024 and to Columbus in 2025. This season, too, they had piled up wins at regular-season events, but this was the first time they reached the top of the league. It was also Waters' first MLP league title. The Finals MVP award, new this season, went by media vote to Federico Staksrud, who had come over from Orlando at the July trade deadline. In the stretches of the two DreamBreakers where he went head-to-head with St. Louis's Hunter Johnson, the combined score was 13-7.

The numbers set records, too. FS1's broadcast on August 1 (the Saturday of the Orlando event) averaged 146,000 viewers, about three times the previous year's Orlando event (49,000). According to an MLP announcement on September 2, CBS's August 30 broadcast of the final averaged 773,000 viewers, the second-highest figure ever for a professional pickleball broadcast on any network. Attendance over the three days of the finals topped 10,000.

Graphic summarizing the results of the 2026 MLP playoffs. In the final, the New Jersey 5s beat the St. Louis Shock 2-0 for their first league title. Both matches were decided in the DreamBreaker, with scores of 22-20 and 21-9. In the semifinals, the New Jersey 5s beat the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and the St. Louis Shock beat the Dallas Flash, each by 2-0

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip

Neither of the two matches in the final was settled in doubles; both came down to a singles relay at the end. Even in a team competition stacked with top players, what decided it was the ability to hold the court on your own. I think most people in Japan mainly play doubles, but singles practice builds the legs to move side to side and the ability to make decisions on your own. I've covered the rules and strategy in Pickleball Singles: Rules and Strategy, and how MLP works in What Are MLP and the PPA Tour?

(Sources: schedule and venues from MLP's official 2026 schedule; the Orlando event from The Kitchen, "New Jersey 5s claim No. 1 seed heading into Major League Pickleball playoffs" (August 2, 2026) and Pickleball.com, "MLP Orlando wraps up 2026 regular season in epic fashion" (August 3, 2026); the 12 playoff teams from The Kitchen (August 5, 2026); the quarterfinals from The Kitchen (August 18, 2026) and MLP official (August 19, 2026); the semifinals and final from The Dink Pickleball (August 29, 2026), Pickleball.com (August 29, 2026), The Kitchen, "New Jersey 5s win 2026 Major League Pickleball title" (August 30, 2026) and Pickleball.com, "Third time's the charm" (August 30, 2026); viewership from Pickleball.com (August 6, 2026) and MLP official (September 2, 2026))

2. The PPA Tour Unifies Its World Rankings, Putting Asian Events on the Same Table

On August 5, the PPA Tour announced its new World Pickleball Rankings. Starting with the 2026-27 season, results from PPA events around the world will be combined into a single ranking: not just events in the United States, but also PPA Tour Asia events, events in Europe, Australia and Canada, and even the lower-tier Challenger events.

  • Event weighting: men's and women's doubles 50%, mixed doubles 35%, singles 15%
  • What counts: the top 14 results from the most recent 52 weeks (the PPA's wording is "14 best results"; the announcement doesn't say whether they're counted separately for each event type)
  • The bigger the event, the more points it awards
  • The rankings determine event entry, first-round byes for top players, and the eight men and eight women who qualify for the season-ending PPA Finals

Connor Pardoe, founder of the PPA Tour and CEO of its parent company, Pickleball Inc., described it as "one number and one global standard."

The abbreviation is where it gets confusing. "WPR (World Pickleball Ratings)," which I covered in my article comparing ratings, is a rating that estimates skill from match results, and it works differently from these new rankings. Yet Pickleball.com also abbreviates the new World Pickleball Rankings as "WPR." If you see "WPR" in international coverage, check which one it's referring to.

Graphic showing how the PPA Tour's new world rankings (from the 2026-27 season) work. Event weighting: men's and women's doubles 50%, mixed doubles 35%, singles 15%. The top 14 results from the most recent 52 weeks are counted (not necessarily 14 events), and eight men and eight women qualify for the season-ending PPA Finals. All PPA events worldwide count (including Asia, Europe and elsewhere)

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip

For Japanese players, the big news is that PPA Tour Asia events go on the same table. From now on, the points Japanese players build up at Asian events will sit in the same rankings as those of top U.S. players. With doubles accounting for a combined 85%, the weighting makes doubles results count the most. A "rating" like DUPR is skill estimated from match results, while this "ranking" is a standing built up from tournament results. Keeping the two apart makes international news much easier to follow.

(Sources: PPA Tour, "World Pickleball Rankings - Be the Best" (August 5, 2026); the regional tours included from The Kitchen, "PPA Tour introduces new World Pickleball Rankings system" (August 5, 2026); the "WPR" abbreviation from Pickleball.com, "What Is World Pickleball Rankings (WPR)?")

3. The Race to Expand: The PPA Heads to Europe and Hong Kong, and the APP Doubles Its Prize Money

The first week of August brought a string of announcements expanding the pro tours.

  • August 3, PPA Tour Asia: Announced the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam. Set for October 19–25 at Kai Tak Arena in Kai Tak Sports Park, it's the first "Slam" event in Asia, with prize money of up to US$1.1 million and 1,500 ranking points
  • August 3, APP: Announced that it will double the prize money for the APP Tour's pro division from $1.5 million in 2026 to $3 million in 2027. It will also increase its U.S. events from 10 to 12
  • August 4, PPA Tour: Announced the launch of PPA Tour Europe. It will hold 20 events in 9 countries in 2026–27, with total prize money of €545,000, and wrap up with the PPA Finals Europe in May 2027. The six countries named at the time of the announcement were Spain, Slovenia, Portugal, Poland, the United Kingdom and Italy

The APP also made its presence felt in Europe. According to the APP's post-event recap (September 1), the "English Open," co-hosted with Pickleball England on August 11–16 at the NEC international exhibition venue in Birmingham, England, drew more than 3,500 players from 56 countries, with 7,987 matches played. The APP called it "the world's largest-ever indoor pickleball event."

Graphic summarizing the new stages announced in August 2026. PPA Tour Europe, announced August 4: 20 events in 9 countries, with total prize money of €545,000. The Hong Kong Slam, announced August 3: prize money of up to US$1.1 million, Asia's first Slam, held October 19–25. The APP Tour, also announced August 3: $3 million in pro prize money for 2027, double the $1.5 million of 2026

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip

The PPA and the APP are the two pro tours that have stood side by side in the United States. Now the stage for their rivalry is spreading to Asia and Europe. The Hong Kong Slam is close to Japan, with only a one-hour time difference. I think having more events and prize money that players can compete for without going all the way to the United States is a genuine tailwind for Japanese players.

(Sources: PPA Tour Asia, "Hong Kong Set to Host the First-ever Slam in Asia and 2026 Finale" (August 3, 2026); APP, "APP Tour Doubles Professional Prize Money to $3 Million" (August 3, 2026); The Kitchen, "PPA Tour announces launch of PPA Tour Europe" (August 4, 2026); Pickleball.com, "A new frontier: PPA Tour Europe is born" (August 4, 2026); the English Open from APP (August 13, 2026) and APP (September 1, 2026))

4. Asia: Six Months After His Strokes, Goldin Wins His First PPA Title

In August, PPA Tour Asia held two events worth 500 ranking points, one in Vietnam and one in China (plus one lower-tier "PPA Asia 125" event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 27–29).

At the MB Ho Chi Minh City Open (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) on August 6–9, Hong Kit Wong, who had won three straight men's singles titles through July's event in Singapore, lost to Luc Pham in the semifinals, ending his winning streak. The men's singles title went to Adam Harvey. In men's doubles, home players Trương Vinh Hiển and Đỗ Minh Quân of Vietnam took the title.

The star of the Skechers Shenzhen Open (Shenzhen, China) on August 20–23 was Grayson Goldin of the United States. According to PPA Tour Asia, he suffered two strokes in February (Pickleball.com describes them as "multiple strokes") and for a time lost the ability to speak, and he has spoken publicly about his road to recovery since then. In the men's singles final, he dropped the first game to Trương Vinh Hiển, who had won the men's doubles in Ho Chi Minh City, and was down 5-10 in the third game before winning seven straight points to come back and win 4-11, 11-9, 12-10. According to Pickleball.com, he is 31, and this was his first PPA Tour title. It was also his first medal of any kind on the tour.

Among Japanese players, Rika Fujiwara finished runner-up in women's singles in Shenzhen, and Aiko Yoshitomi and Kei Sawaki took third place in women's doubles in Ho Chi Minh City. Tama Shimabukuro, who won the Tokyo event in July with Yuta Funemizu, won the mixed doubles in Shenzhen with Sahra Dennehy. For Japanese players' runs through the draws and their results at lower-tier events, see the August Japan edition.

On August 30, the Pickleball World Cup got underway in Da Nang, Vietnam (running through September 6, with the opening ceremony on September 2). I've rounded up the results in the September edition.

(Sources: the Ho Chi Minh City event from PPA Tour Asia (July 20, 2026; schedule and venue), PPA Tour Asia (August 8, 2026; semifinals) and PPA Tour Asia (August 10, 2026; finals); the Shenzhen event from PPA Tour Asia (August 18, 2026; schedule), PPA Tour Asia, "Goldin Completes Golden Comeback" (August 23, 2026) and Pickleball.com (August 24, 2026); placings confirmed from the podium records on the event pages (Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen); PPA Asia 125 from the event page (2026 Tomaz Cup); the World Cup schedule from VietnamPlus (September 3, 2026))

5. Data: Japan Ranks 5th in DUPR User Growth, and the Top 10 Are All in Asia

On August 11, The Dink Pickleball, drawing on data from the "DUPR" rating system, highlighted the 10 countries with the highest growth rates in DUPR users over the past 12 months.

1st, the Philippines; 2nd, Indonesia; 3rd, China; 4th, India; 5th, Japan; 6th, Thailand; 7th, South Korea; 8th, Singapore; 9th, Malaysia; 10th, Vietnam. All 10 countries are in Asia. Growth rates ranged from 110% to 1,200%, and the body of the article doesn't give each country's figure. The ranking is by growth rate, not by the number of users.

Graphic of the 10 countries with the highest growth in DUPR users over the past 12 months: 1st, the Philippines; 2nd, Indonesia; 3rd, China; 4th, India; 5th, Japan; 6th, Thailand; 7th, South Korea; 8th, Singapore; 9th, Malaysia; 10th, Vietnam. All 10 are in Asia, with 5th-place Japan highlighted

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip

One thing to keep in mind is that this is the growth rate not of the playing population itself but of "people newly joining DUPR (DUPR users)." Even so, I think Japan's 5th-place finish shows that more and more people in Japan are starting to use DUPR. I've covered how to get started with DUPR and how to use it in Japan in Using DUPR in Japan.

(Source: The Dink Pickleball, "10 Countries Where Pickleball Is Exploding Most, Based on DUPR Users" (August 11, 2026))

6. Bonus: Selkirk and Tesla Release a Second Limited-Edition Paddle

On August 20, Selkirk and Tesla released a limited-edition paddle, the "Tesla Aurum Pickleball Paddle by Selkirk." It's their second release, following the "Tesla Plaid" paddle of 2025. According to The Kitchen, it uses the same technology as the Plaid; it's a different colorway, finished in gold inspired by the exterior color of Tesla's "Cybercab" vehicle. The paddle's design reportedly draws on Tesla engineers' analysis of airflow (air resistance and the turbulence that forms behind the paddle). It was sold only on Tesla's official U.S. website, in very small quantities.

We're an authorized dealer of Selkirk, but this model is a limited edition sold only by Tesla, so we don't carry it. I introduce the Selkirk brand as a whole in What Kind of Brand Is Selkirk?

(Sources: The Kitchen, "Selkirk Pickleball and Tesla release limited-edition 'Aurum' paddle" (August 20, 2026); the gold finish and U.S.-only sales from Tesla North (August 20, 2026))

Summary: August 2026 in World Pickleball, Seen from Japan

MLP wrapped up with the New Jersey 5s' first league title, but in August, the framework of the pro game, such as rankings and tours, also shifted significantly off the court. And Asia is part of where it's expanding.

For players in Japan, the big development is that, starting with the 2026-27 season, the results Japanese players post on PPA Tour Asia will count in the same world rankings as those of top U.S. players. Asia's first Slam was born in Hong Kong, and Japan ranked 5th in DUPR user growth. Little by little, international news is becoming a story that involves players in Japan, too.

If you have questions, such as how to follow international matches or how to tell rankings and DUPR apart, feel free to ask on LINE. I (Coach Yoshi) will reply to you personally.

Related articles

References

  1. Major League Pickleball: 2026 May-August Season Schedule (2026-04-06)
  2. The Kitchen: New Jersey 5s claim No. 1 seed heading into Major League Pickleball playoffs (2026-08-02)
  3. Pickleball.com: MLP Orlando Wraps Up 2026 Regular Season in Epic Fashion (2026-08-03)
  4. The Kitchen: Major League Pickleball Playoffs: First-round matchups, schedule, viewing guide (2026-08-05)
  5. The Kitchen: Major League Pickleball Playoffs: Quarterfinal round delivers multiple instant classics (2026-08-18)
  6. Major League Pickleball: MLP Playoffs: Quarterfinal Recap & Bracket Update (2026-08-19)
  7. The Dink Pickleball: The MLP Finals Are Set: Fives vs. Shock Showdown (2026-08-29)
  8. Pickleball.com: 5s Secure Comeback DreamBreaker Victory Over Shock in First Match of Championship Series (2026-08-29)
  9. The Kitchen: New Jersey 5s win 2026 Major League Pickleball title with 2-0 sweep over St. Louis Shock (2026-08-30)
  10. Pickleball.com: Third Time's the Charm: New Jersey Defeats St. Louis to Clinch 2026 MLP Title as Staksrud Earns Finals MVP Honors (2026-08-30)
  11. Pickleball.com: FS1's Most-Watched Pickleball Event Ever: MLP Orlando Shatters Records (2026-08-06)
  12. Major League Pickleball: Major League Pickleball Finals on CBS Set All-Time League Viewership Record (2026-09-02)
  13. PPA Tour: World Pickleball Rankings - Be the Best (2026-08-05)
  14. The Kitchen: PPA Tour introduces new World Pickleball Rankings system (2026-08-05)
  15. PPA Tour Asia: Hong Kong Set to Host the First-ever Slam in Asia and 2026 Finale (2026-08-03)
  16. APP: APP Tour Doubles Professional Prize Money to $3 Million and Expands 2027 Tour Schedule (2026-08-03)
  17. The Kitchen: PPA Tour announces launch of PPA Tour Europe; will feature 20 stops in 9 countries (2026-08-04)
  18. Pickleball.com: A New Frontier: PPA Tour Europe Is Born (2026-08-04)
  19. APP: World's Largest Indoor Pickleball Event Set to Welcome Global Field to England (2026-08-13)
  20. APP: World's Largest-Ever Indoor Pickleball Event Brings Record Numbers to England (2026-09-01)
  21. PPA Tour Asia: PPA Tour Asia Returns to Ho Chi Minh City (2026-07-20)
  22. PPA Tour Asia: Andie D Eyes Asia Gold After Down Under Dominance (2026-08-08)
  23. PPA Tour Asia: Ninety Minutes of Mayhem: Truong and Do Strike Gold (2026-08-10)
  24. PPA Tour Asia: MB Ho Chi Minh City Open 2026 (event page)
  25. PPA Tour Asia: Shenzhen Sizes Up a Stacked Field (2026-08-18)
  26. PPA Tour Asia: Goldin Completes Golden Comeback (2026-08-23)
  27. PPA Tour Asia: Skechers Shenzhen Open 2026 (event page)
  28. Pickleball.com: Goldin Moment: Grayson Goldin Claims First PPA Tour Title Six Months After Stroke (2026-08-24)
  29. VietnamPlus: Heineken Pickleball World Cup 2026 kicks off in Da Nang (2026-09-03)
  30. The Dink Pickleball: 10 Countries Where Pickleball Is Exploding Most, Based on DUPR Users (2026-08-11)
  31. The Kitchen: Selkirk Pickleball and Tesla release limited-edition 'Aurum' paddle (2026-08-20)
  32. Tesla North: Tesla Launches Cybercab Inspired Aurum Pickleball Paddle with Selkirk (2026-08-20)
  33. Pickleball.com: What Is World Pickleball Rankings (WPR)?
  34. PPA Tour Asia: 2026 Tomaz Cup (PPA Asia 125 event page)
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Coach Yoshi / Owner of Pickleball Lab
Former international ski competitor and active tennis coach. Discovered pickleball in LA in 2026 and has play-tested more than 100 paddles from Japan and around the world. Pickleball Lab is Japan's exclusive authorized distributor of Engage Pickleball (as of May 2026).
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