In pickleball news to start 2026, Sypik Pickleball just announced it is moving on from former UPA player Quang Duong.

 

Duong who has had, shall we say, a checkered past when it comes to meeting contractual obligations, originally signed with Sypik only eight months ago. Sypik is a little known Vietnamese pickleball company. According to Sypik’s own website, Sypik is the one and only Vietnamese manufacturer of “pickleball rackets.”

 

The news, announced on Instagram, cryptically states that Sypik is moving on as “the journey completes the mission.” No details were provided for the breakup. Duong had only signed on April 30, 2025, and it is certainly unusual for a sponsor and pro player to part ways after well less than a year together.

 

 

Prior to signing, however temporarily with Sypik, Duong had been sponsored by Selkirk for two years. While with Selkirk, though, Duong was seen multiple times practicing or playing with other manufacturer’s paddles, a well-publicized fact that could not have endeared Duong to Selkirk.

 

Duong’s contractual adventures extend beyond paddles. His UPA contract was terminated on July 12, 2025 for playing in unauthorized events in Vietnam. This was after earlier violations for which he had been warned. 

 

Duong’s career is managed by his father, Duc Duong. Under Duc’s direction, Quang now plays in the India Pickleball League (“IPL”). Considering the history, the IPL might want to check the strength of their contractual language.

 

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