Everything you missed in pickleball in October 2026
October was one of the busiest months on the PPA Tour. From international events to the biggest upsets of the year, here’s everything you missed this month.
Pickleball Industry News
Pickleball betting hit the Polymarket. Lululemon dropped their first pickleball bag.
Actor and comedian Jamie Foxx revealed that he throws epic pickleball parties on Wednesday nights.
NHL forward for the Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman incorporated pickleball into his Halloween costume when recreating Timothy Chalamet and Kylie Jenner red carpet look.
The PPA Tour signed Martin Thomas.
A new MLP team, the Houston Hammers, was added to the roster.
And this creator made a pro pickleball anime series.
Pro Pickleball News
Anna Leigh Waters visited Malaysia and the Philippines with Franklin to grow the game.
Genie Bouchard partnered with Bumble.
Gabe Tardio, Federico Staksrud, and Lacy Schneemann went on the Pickleballers Podcast.
Blaine Hovenier went to a Dallas Cowboys game.
Ben Johns dropped another “Ben Eats” episode while in Vegas.
Anna Leigh Waters did an ad with L’Oreal Paris.
Dylan Frazier competed in a few new looks from Volair Pickleball featuring Spiderman and Star Wars.
A few of the pros play pickleball on a water taxi to promote PPA Chicago.
Greg Dow asked a few of the pros who they’d least like to be stuck on a desert island with. Anna Bright said her's was Zane Navratil.
Alex Walker and Greg Dow visited the bean in Chicago.
Martin Emmrich carried around a pumpkin taped to his belly to understand how Tammy Emmrich feels during her third trimester.
Mary and Maggie Brascia participated in their annual blow up pickleball night for Halloween.
A few of the pros shared their Halloween costumes. Genie Bouchard was Britany Spears, Parris Todd was a pickleball paddle with her dog, and Allyce Jones and her family were the X-men.
PPA Australia Pickleball Cup Recap
Several of the top pickleball athletes from the states visited the southern hemisphere for the Australia Pickleball Cup.
Ahead of the action, they adventured around Australia and got to meet kangaroos, koala bears, and enjoy the local cuisine.
Christian Alshon’s social media manager Benjamin Bramblett stepped in to partner up with Alshon after his original partner, Federico Staksrud had visa issues. The pair made it all the way to the quarter finals.
Familiar faces won the gold. Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black who won women’s doubles. Hurricane Tyra Black and Gabe Tardio won mixed. Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin won men’s. And Hunter Johnson won men’s singles.
PPA Asia 1500 Hong Kong Slam Recap
Anna Bright did villain hitting in Hong Kong. She also squeezed in a hike before the quarter finals.
A bunch of the pros went to Disney Land Hong Kong including Allyce Jones, Mari Humberg, Kaitlyn Christian, and Anna Leigh Waters.
Hunter Johnson got really into the opening ceremony dance routine.
And top pros secured the victories abroad including Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters who won women’s doubles. Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin upset Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio and won men’s doubles. Hunter Johnson won his second singles title in a row. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters won mixed. And Australian pro, Andie Dikosavljevic won back-to-back titles in women’s singles.
PPA Tournament Recaps
Back in the states, the PPA Tour started the month in Las Vegas for the Rate Vegas Open.
Genie Bouchard made her return to the pro court. She and Marcela Aquila Ampon enjoyed some free time on the Las Vegas strip.
Hunter Johnson won men’s singles and Kaitlyn Christian won women’s singles. Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters won women’s dubs.
And in a shocking upset, Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin beat Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters for the gold.
And Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon defeated Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns in men’s doubles.
The best dressed pros included Abbigal Hatton, Kate Fahey, and Pablo Tellez.
Then, tour went to Illinois for the Veolia Chicago Cup.
The issue of taunting was brought up after a women’s singles match with Maria Ford and Genie Bouchard where Ford basically screamed after every single point.
Anna Leigh Waters won her 200th title on the PPA Tour.
Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin won men’s doubles. Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters won women’s. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh won mixed. Anna Leigh won women’s singles. And Roscoe Bellamy won men’s singles.
The best dressed players included Hurricane Tyra Black, Chris Haworth, and Kiora Kunimoto.
PPA Tour Mojo Energy Pouches Virginia Beach Open
After that, the tour went to Virginia Beach.
Underdogs Jaume Martinez Vich and Elliott Schupp went on an impressive run to win men’s doubles. Sofia Sewing and Catherine Parenteau won their first title together in women’s doubles.
Kate Fahey won women’s singles. She and Eric Oncins won mixed. And John Lucian Goins won men’s singles.
The best dressed pros included Helena Jansen, Layne Sleeth, and Alix Truong.
The MLP Nations Cup took place ahead of PPA World Championships, where the pros competed as teams to represent their country of origin. USA took the victory.
What was your favorite moment from October? Let us know on Instagram.
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