The 2026 PPA Tour Asia season kicks off with unprecedented scale at the MB Hanoi Cup. From April 1-5, the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena becomes the center of global pickleball with US$300,000 in prize money and 1000 PPA Ranking points at stake.
The seeds have been revealed, the brackets are set, and now the question: who will rise to the challenge? Here are our players to watch and forecasts for the week.Men's Singles: The Arena of Gladiators
Federico Staksrud (#1)
The Men’s Singles draw is a shark tank. Federico Staksrud enters as the #1 seed, eager to reclaim his world dominance after a bronze finish in Hangzhou last December. His consistency in transition and elite passing shots make him the man to beat.
We can expect to see a masterclass in tactical aggression from the Argentinian star. Staksrud has recently refined his service game into a genuine weapon, utilizing a 45-degree upward strike to generate massive topspin that forces high returns.
Coming off a dominant victory at the PPA Texas Cup, he arrives in Vietnam at the peak of his pickleball career. Watch for his signature "cat-and-mouse" points where he uses his master’s level understanding of court geometry to pull opponents out of position before firing a clinical winner.
Christian Alshon (#2)
Fresh off his victory at the Panas Malaysia Cup, Alshon’s "bully ball" style and unmatched athleticism thrive in the humid Asian climate. As a former NCAA tennis champion, his ability to cover the entire court allows him to play a high-risk, high-reward game that often "breaks" traditional pickleball strategies. His relentless aggression and court coverage could unsettle Staksrud's calculated approach.
Hong Kit (Jack) Wong (#6)
The 2025 PPA Tour Asia Year-End No. 1 is the tournament's most dangerous "giant killer." A former ATP-ranked tennis professional, Wong transitioned to pickleball with a style built on world-class lateral movement and a "grinder" mentality.
In Hanoi, expect Wong to bait opponents into long, grueling rallies where he thrives on "cat-and-mouse" net play. His ability to hit precise passing shots while on the full sprint makes him a nightmare for seeds like Staksrud, whom he is projected to meet in the quarterfinals. Wong enters 2026 with immense confidence after winning the 2025 Hong Kong Open gold, and he will look to use that momentum to secure his first 1,000-point title on Vietnamese soil.
Connor Garnett (#3)
The world No. 3 and pioneer of the "Twoey Nation," Connor Garnett is a player defined by explosive athleticism and technical innovation. Garnett’s two-handed backhand is a lethal weapon that could see him bypass the favorites.Garnett brings a professional tennis discipline to the court, characterized by compact, efficient mechanics and high-speed footwork. While he suffered a surprise quarterfinal exit in Hangzhou, he remains one of the most consistent title threats in the world. In Hanoi, look for Garnett to utilize his high-performance Paddletek gear to dictate the pace of play, seeking to replicate the "Triple Crown" magic that made him a legend in Japan.Women's Singles: Queens of the Court
Kate Fahey (#1)
Making her Asia debut, the World No. 2 is the technical favorite, but she faces a brutal path against Yufei Long (#12). Fahey has enjoyed a meteoric rise, establishing herself as the clear second-best singles player in the world behind Waters.
Unlike the PPA mainstays Fahey faces in the US, Long plays a varied, spin-heavy game tailored to Asian conditions. Fahey will need to adapt her "power-first" game to the slower, tactical rallies favored by her local challengers if she hopes to secure her first Asian 1,000-point title.
Sahra Dennehy (#6)
Dennehy is on a "Golden Streak" in Asia, having gone undefeated in back-to-back tournaments (Vietnam Cup and Hangzhou Open). Unlike many players who rush the net, Sahra possesses the best groundstrokes in the field, allowing her to "eat up" shallow approach shots and punish aggressive net-rushers with precise passing shots.
Chao Yi Wang (#4)
Chao Yi Wang is forecast to have a rematch with Sahra Dennehy at the quarterfinals. This is a repeat of the Hangzhou final, and the winner is likely to take the podium. In her previous meeting with Dennehy, Wang struggled when the rallies extended beyond five hits, often committing unforced errors under the pressure of Dennehy's relentless depth.
For Hanoi, Wang has reportedly been working on her "soft game," focusing on reset volleys to neutralize power. If she can find the patience to wait for the right ball to attack, her raw power could be enough to end Dennehy's streak.
Yufei Long (#12)
The Taiwanese star knows these courts, these conditions, these crowds. Her aggressive style and fearless shot-making could rattle Fahey's measured approach. Wang is playing not just for herself, but for Asian pride on the continental stage.
Hanoi fans can expect Long to play with incredible "clutch" composure as seen in the Malaysia Open final to secure gold. Her ability to use heavy topspin and vary her pace makes her a "nightmare" draw for Kate Fahey in the Round of 16. In the slower, indoor conditions of the My Dinh Arena, Long’s familiarity with the local ball flight and humidity gives her a distinct advantage. If she can lure Fahey into long, grinding rallies, we could see the tournament's biggest upset on Day 2.
Doubles: Heavyweight Collisions
Men’s Doubles
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio (#1) are the clear frontrunners. While Johns has a mountain of medals in the US, he is still chasing his first Asian Gold after settling for Silver/Bronze in 2025.
The pairing of Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin (#2). Their chemistry is peaking, and they are the most likely duo to disrupt the Johns/Tardio dominance.
Women’s Doubles
Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright (#1) are making their international debut as a pair. They are the heavy favorites, but the bracket has handed them a nightmare quarterfinal against Brooke Buckner and Chao Yi Wang.
Expect a "Final before the Final" if they meet Tyra Hurricane Black and Catherine Parenteau (#2) on Championship Sunday.
Mixed Doubles
The Mixed Doubles field is perhaps the most star-studded category in Hanoi, featuring a "Who's Who" of the PPA Tour.
- The Top Seeds: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters (#1). The most dominant pair in the history of the sport arrives in Hanoi with a target on their backs. They are projected to face a massive semifinal test against the explosive duo of Tyra Hurricane Black and Gabriel Tardio.
- The "Other" Half: Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin (#2) lead the bottom half of the bracket. Their path to the final likely goes through Kaitlyn Christian and Christian Alshon, a pairing that has shown incredible chemistry in recent PPA stops.
- The Sibling Threat: Alix and Jonathan Truong remain a sentimental and tactical favorite in Hanoi. Their sibling synchronization often allows them to topple higher-seeded professional pairings.
The Stage Is Set. As the countdown to April 1st ticks away, Hanoi prepares to host what promises to be the most electrifying PPA Tour Asia opener in history. The My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena will echo with the pop of paddles, the roar of crowds, and the collective heartbeat of athletes chasing glory. Will Staksrud reign supreme? Will Fahey's Asian debut end in triumph? Will Waters reach the magical 200-gold milestone? The answers await in Vietnam. One thing is certain: after Hanoi, the pickleball landscape will never be the same.
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