In 2026, the professional pickleball landscape in Asia includes a 10-stop PPA Tour Asia circuit and the debut of the APP Tour in Kuala Lumpur. These events feature a mix of established international professionals and regional players from Southeast Asia.
Anna Leigh Waters
Anna Leigh Waters is scheduled to compete at the MB Hanoi Cup (April 1-5). This marks the first time the world’s top-ranked female player will participate in a professional tournament in Vietnam. This event serves as her official international debut, where she will compete for 1,000 PPA ranking points at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena.
She is set to partner with Ben Johns in mixed doubles and Anna Bright in women's doubles, aiming for another signature Triple Crown. Following the competition, she will travel to Ho Chi Minh City on April 6-7 to host a meet and greet with fans and an exhibition match.
Ben Johns
World No. 1 Ben Johns returns to Vietnam following his 2025 appearance. He will compete in Hanoi alongside doubles partner Gabe Tardio. Despite his 180+ global titles, Johns is looking to secure his first gold medal in an Asian tour event after taking silver and bronze last year. During the tournament, he will be debuting his "Pro V" series of Joola paddles (specifically the PerseusV).
Anna Bright
Anna Bright is confirmed for the PPA Tour Asia 1000 events. She is expected to compete in both singles and doubles categories across the 10-stop tour. Fans can expect her signature "fire-fight" aggressive net play and high-energy transitions.
As a heavy favorite in women's doubles alongside Anna Leigh Waters, she is looking to "Complete the Dragon" by podiuming at the major 1000-level stops. Like her peers, she is chasing the 1,000 PPA points at the MB Hanoi Cup and the Hong Kong Slam to solidify her top-3 world ranking.
Hayden Patriquin
One of the most anticipated young stars of 2026, Hayden Patriquin (known to fans as "H-Dot"), has officially confirmed his participation in the MB Hanoi Cup. At just 20 years old, Patriquin represents the "next generation" of the sport, having traded a 12-year baseball career for a meteoric rise to the PPA top 5 in Men's Doubles.
Patriquin is expected to pair with world-renowned professional Federico Staksrud in Hanoi, forming one of the most athletic and aggressive duos in the field. Fans in Hanoi can expect to see his signature "ruthless" two-handed backhand and lightning-fast net reflexes in person for the first time.
Must-Watch Regional Talent
While international legends draw the crowds, the 2026 circuit is defined by the rise of home-grown Asian professionals. The PPA Tour Asia rankings currently feature an elite group of players who have achieved Top 20 status in both Gendered Doubles (Men's/Women's) and Mixed Doubles while training and competing exclusively within the Asian circuit:
- Hong Kit Wong (Hong Kong): Currently ranked #1 in Asia. He is a premier dual-category threat, maintaining a top 20 position in both Men's and Mixed Doubles through clinical consistency.
- Ting Chieh Wei / Jamie Wei (Taiwan): Ranked #1 in Asia for Women's Doubles. Wei is a dominant force who maintains a top 20 standing in both Women's and Mixed Doubles while remaining based in Taipei. She won three consecutive golds in 2025 with three different partners.
- Eunggwon Kim (South Korea): A dominant force from the Korean circuit who has successfully transitioned his game to the continental level, scoring high in both Men's and Mixed categories.
- Vanshik Kapadia (India): Representing the rapid growth of the sport in India, Kapadia maintains top 20 rankings in both doubles disciplines while playing solely on Asian soil.
- Yufei Long (China): The 2025 Women's Singles season leader. Long is a unique powerhouse who scores high in both Women's and Mixed Doubles. While she remains the face of Chinese pickleball, she frequently participates in the "Trailblazers" program, splitting her training between Asia and high-performance centers in Nashville and Arizona.
The Hong Kong Slam Season Finale
The 2026 season concludes with the million-dollar Hong Kong Slam from October 19–25. It is expected to be the largest professional pickleball tournament ever staged in Asia. With a $1,100,000 prize purse and 1,500 PPA Ranking points (the highest available on the tour), you can expect the biggest names in pickleball from all corners of the world to compete.
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