Worlds preview
Five world titles, one week: what’s at stake in Dallas
The PPA World Championships begin today at Brookhaven. Here's the schedule, the stakes and the five storylines that will decide it.
Today’s cover · MLP Nations Cup
Team USA sweeps Latin America to win the first Nations Cup
Ben Johns, Anna Bright and a squad assembled in about 24 hours went undefeated in Dallas, closing with an 11-9, 11-1, 11-6 final.
Read the storyPickleballer Desk · 2 min read
Final Final: Team USA def. Team Latin America 3–0Final Semifinal: Team USA def. Team Europe-East 3–1Final Semifinal: Team Latin America def. Team Asia Domestic 3–1Final Men's singles: H. Johnson def. T. Shimabukuro 11-4, 6-11, 11-7Final Women's singles: A. Dikosavljevic def. J. Castillo 11-1, 11-5Final Men's doubles: Patriquin / Staksrud def. Johns / Tardio 11-6, 11-8Final Women's doubles: Waters / Bright def. Black / J. Johnson 11-4, 11-6Final Mixed doubles: Johns / Waters def. Bright / Patriquin 11-4, 11-3Final Men’s singles: H. Johnson def. C. Alshon 11-8, 5-11, 11-8Final Women’s singles: A. Dikosavljevic def. J. Castillo 11-6, 11-6
Monday, November 2, 2026
THE FRONT
PAGE.
Team USA rules the first Nations Cup, and Worlds begins today in Dallas. Everything you need before your first game.
The Breakdown
Hunter Johnson is the man to beat in Dallas
Four singles golds since September, including an 11-1, 11-3 rout of Ben Johns, make him the form pick for the men's world title.
The Breakdown
Bright and Patriquin vs. Johns and Waters: the rivalry that will decide mixed at Worlds
Bright and Patriquin have beaten the best mixed team of the era twice this year. Johns and Waters just answered with back-to-back golds.
The Kitchen
Watch Worlds like a coach: three things to steal from the pros this week
You won’t hit like a pro by Sunday. But you can learn to see the game the way they do.
Fast reads
THE DAILY
DINK.
The short version. Everything else worth knowing this morning, in under two minutes.
Eight tour cards on the line
The Challenger Showdown, Nov. 5–7 at Worlds, gives players without PPA contracts a shot at eight tour offers for 2027. Pickleball.com
Wahlberg takes the court
Mark Wahlberg headlines the Worlds celebrity showdown on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. CT on Tennis Channel. Pickleball.com
200 and counting
Anna Leigh Waters won her 200th career PPA title with a triple crown at the Chicago Cup. She is 55-0 in singles finals since June 2022, per the PPA. Read
The streak
As of early September, Waters had not lost a singles match in more than 830 days, The Kitchen reported. Worlds is the next test. The Kitchen
Remember the name
Kiora Kunimoto, 18, upset top seed Kate Fahey on her way to the Las Vegas Open singles final. Read
Finals
THE
SCOREBOARD.
- Final · MLP Nations CupTeam USA3–0def. Team Latin AmericaSource
- Semifinal · MLP Nations CupTeam USA3–1def. Team Europe-EastSource
- Semifinal · MLP Nations CupTeam Latin America3–1def. Team Asia DomesticSource
- Men's singles · Hong Kong SlamH. Johnson11-4, 6-11, 11-7def. T. ShimabukuroSource
- Women's singles · Hong Kong SlamA. Dikosavljevic11-1, 11-5def. J. CastilloSource
- Men's doubles · Hong Kong SlamPatriquin / Staksrud11-6, 11-8def. Johns / TardioSource
- Women's doubles · Hong Kong SlamWaters / Bright11-4, 11-6def. Black / J. JohnsonSource
- Mixed doubles · Hong Kong SlamJohns / Waters11-4, 11-3def. Bright / PatriquinSource
Collect them all
THE
CARDS.
Every pro we cover gets a Pickleballer trading card, updated as the season unfolds. Tap one to see the stats and share it.
LATEST.
The archivePPA Tour Asia
Johnson and Dikosavljevic go back to back in Hong Kong
A week after Brisbane, both singles champions won again. Patriquin and Staksrud beat Johns and Tardio, and Waters won twice.
PPA Australia Cup
Johnson, Tardio and Black strike gold in Brisbane
Tardio and Black won two titles each, and Brisbane’s own Andie Dikosavljevic took women’s singles at home.
PPA Chicago Cup
Waters wins her 200th title with a Chicago triple crown
Anna Leigh Waters swept all three finals in Northbrook. Roscoe Bellamy, at 6-foot-5, took men's singles over the top seed.
The Business
The Picklr files for Chapter 11, says its clubs stay open
The indoor franchisor blamed lease guarantees for early franchisees. Founder Jorge Barragan: “That’s on us. I own it.”
PPA Las Vegas Open
Johnson routs Johns, Bright wins twice in Las Vegas
Hunter Johnson won the singles final 11-1, 11-3, Alshon and Daescu got their revenge, and Bright and Patriquin beat the top mixed seeds.
Gear Lab
Six new paddles worth a look this fall
Foam cores, new grit surfaces and a Bread & Butter x Selkirk collaboration headline October’s releases.
PRO TOUR.
AllFive world titles, one week: what’s at stake in Dallas
Team USA sweeps Latin America to win the first Nations Cup
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