Thaddea Lock Eyes Gold in India's World Pickleball League
Thaddea Lock, the UK's top-ranked female pickleball player, is in India, aiming for gold in the inaugural World Pickleball League (WPBL). She represents the Chennai Super Champs, and this marks her third visit to India for competition. Lock previously won a bronze medal in singles at the Indian Open and two silver medals at the Monsoon Championships. Before switching to pickleball in 2018, she was a ranked tennis player. Lock has earned 56 professional gold medals, eight national titles and seven triple crowns in pickleball, making her Europe's first full-time professional player. She has also conducted over 50 coaching clinics. The Chennai Super Champs are owned by actress-entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Lock emphasizes team dynamics, and strives to be a reliable teammate.
Tennis Legend Steffi Graf Serves Up a New Challenge: Signature Paddle and Pickleball Slam
Steffi Graf, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, is making a splash in the pickleball world with the release of her own signature paddle in collaboration with JOOLA. This marks a new chapter for the tennis icon, who is partnering with fellow tennis legend Andre Agassi as part of his partnership with the company. The paddles, which will be released on January 28 as part of the Agassi Collection, will feature a 'racket' style shape and wider base.
Graf has stated that she appreciates the feeling of control her paddle gives her, adding that it has improved her game. Agassi’s goal for his partnership is to grow the sport. The two tennis stars are also preparing to defend their title at the upcoming Pickleball Slam 3, set to take place on February 16 in Las Vegas. Graf’s move into pickleball is another example of how the sport is drawing in big names from other sports, further boosting its visibility and popularity.
Partner Betrayals, Legal Battles, and Paddle Protests Rock Pickleball Star
Quang Duong, a rising name in professional pickleball, finds himself amidst a whirlwind of controversy, facing accusations of partner mistreatment, a lawsuit, and a paddle dispute. It's alleged that Duong has a habit of dropping partners and not communicating his decisions, most notably in one instance, allegedly lying to a partner's girlfriend about signing up with another player at the last minute. This has led to claims that he has lost the respect of his fellow competitors.
Adding to the turmoil, Duong was reportedly served papers for a lawsuit while on the court, just before a tournament. This legal issue is tied to a cease and desist order from Selkirk, his former paddle sponsor, for allegedly auctioning off unreleased paddles and prototypes while under contract. Duong has been seen using Proton and Yola paddles, claiming that he has no remaining paddles from Selkirk. His on-court behavior has also drawn criticism, with opponents like Ben Johns stating that Duong often goes for body shots, resulting in Johns retaliating with a body shot of his own. These combined issues have made Duong a central figure in the drama of the early 2025 pickleball season.
Triple Threat: Fudge, Howells, and Braverman Seize Double Gold at APP Fort Lauderdale Open
The inaugural Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open at The Fort saw Megan Fudge, Will Howells, and Jill Braverman each achieve double gold status, dominating the competition. Fudge and Braverman teamed up to secure the women's pro doubles title, defeating Allison Harris and Yana Newell in two games. They displayed great resilience, talking through the windy conditions to win their first gold of 2025.
Howells partnered with Jack Munro to take the men's pro doubles gold, overcoming a strong challenge from Erik Lange and Max Manthou in three games. Howells praised his partner's skill and their strong teamwork. The two then joined forces to win the mixed pro doubles title against Fudge and Munro. Braverman and Howells displayed excellent chemistry to secure both of their second golds. In addition to her doubles win, Fudge also won the women's singles title, making her the only player to win three titles at the event.
MLP Shakeup: Owners Plot 2025 Season as Trades, Drops, and Big Payments Loom
Major League Pickleball (MLP) is on the verge of a significant transformation as owners meet in Dallas to finalize details for the 2025 season. Teams face crucial decisions as they navigate new rules and financial implications, with an open trade window set to begin before teams must decide which players to keep or drop.
A key element of this year's MLP is that each team must drop at least one player from their 2024 roster. Additionally, teams cannot keep players acquired after the initial 2024 draft. In order to keep a player, teams must pay MLP half of the 2024 draft points used to acquire the player, in dollars. For example, keeping a player drafted for 840,000 points costs a team $420,000. This financial burden may push teams to trade players rather than simply dropping them. After the trade window and keeper/drop deadline, there will be a bidding waiver event to allow teams to acquire new players. These changes are expected to create a flurry of activity in the MLP as teams strategize for the upcoming season.
PPA Faces Fan Fury: Paywalls, Player Preference, and Profit Questions Rock Pro Pickleball
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) is facing criticism as it implements significant changes for the 2025 season. The most controversial move is the end of free streaming on YouTube, with all non-championship matches moving to a paid app via Pickleball TV. This decision, which requires a $6 monthly or $60 annual subscription, has sparked outrage among fans who accuse the PPA of prioritizing profit over the sport's growth.
Adding to the backlash, the PPA is also under fire for its player prioritization policies, which allow signed players to bypass qualifying rounds, while unsigned, even highly-ranked, players must compete for a spot. This perceived inequity has raised questions about the integrity of the game and the PPA's commitment to fairness. The narrative that the PPA is a "money grab" has been fueled by these changes. Furthermore, recent reports that pro pickleball players may be earning more than WNBA players have also been met with skepticism and questions about the legitimacy of the sport's financial structure. These controversies have placed the PPA at a crossroads, with many fans and players questioning whether its decisions will ultimately help or hinder the sport's long-term success.
Paddle Tech Explodes: New Designs, Materials, and Brands Shake Up the Pickleball Market
The pickleball equipment scene is buzzing with innovation as several new paddles and gear options emerge. Franklin's new C45 paddle is creating a stir with its reported low sound and high power, with all of their pros now using it. Selkirk is also making waves with its Lab 007 paddle, featuring an Infinigrate surface that is said to last three times longer than raw carbon. Meanwhile, Adidas is poised to enter the market, with Fed rumored to be their next sponsored player.
The power of Joola paddles is under scrutiny, sparking a debate over paddle technology. Amidst these developments, Avora has launched the Rapsidity paddle, emphasizing a large sweet spot. Ethos is also introducing new technology, unveiling innovative undergrips designed for better control. Technafiber has partnered with 6.0 to release a line of high-performance paddles. For those looking to customize their equipment, Pickleball Effect has released convenient pre-cut tungsten tape strips. Lastly, Selkirk is expanding into footwear with the release of their new Court Strike and Court Strike Pro shoes, designed for optimal on-court performance.