Last Updated on January 19, 2026 by Drew Pierce
Hey pickleballers, Ace here, coming at you fresh off Championship Sunday at the PPA Masters in Palm Springs. What a way to kick off the 2026 professional season—we got breakthrough wins, dominant performances, historic milestones, and some serious storylines that’ll shape the rest of the year. Plus, USA Pickleball just dropped a game-changing equipment testing program, MLP unveiled their 2026 rule changes, and the US Open lottery is officially underway. Let’s get into it.
Chris Haworth’s Historic Breakthrough in Men’s Singles
The biggest story out of Palm Springs? Chris Haworth capturing his first-ever PPA Grand Slam title in men’s singles. And he didn’t just squeak by—Haworth absolutely dominated, taking down seeded players in straight sets throughout the bracket before closing out the final 11-7, 11-5.
For those who’ve been following Haworth’s trajectory, this has been building for a while. The 2025 season saw him climbing the rankings with improved speed and court positioning, but he hadn’t broken through for that signature win at a major event. Palm Springs changed that narrative completely.
What impressed me most wasn’t just the wins—it was how he won. Haworth’s game has evolved from being purely defensive into a well-rounded arsenal that can attack when needed. His improved foot speed lets him get to balls that used to be winners against him, and he’s developed the shot selection to know when to counter-punch versus when to reset and make opponents earn points.
The ripple effects of this win are significant. First, his DUPR rating is about to jump, which affects seeding and matchups going forward. Second, you can bet sponsorship conversations are heating up—breakthrough Grand Slam wins at season-opening events generate serious buzz. Third, and maybe most important for the competitive landscape, this signals that men’s singles is wide open in 2026. The days of assuming the usual suspects will dominate every major may be behind us.
Anna Leigh Waters Does Anna Leigh Waters Things
Speaking of dominance, Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright powered through to win women’s doubles gold, defeating Jade and Jackie Kawamoto 12-10, 11-3, 11-2 in the final. That first game was tight—a real battle—but once Waters and Bright settled in, their aggressive playstyle and court chemistry overwhelmed the Kawamoto sisters.
What made this particularly impressive is that Waters reached all three finals in Palm Springs (women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and presumably women’s singles based on her current form). She’s chasing triple crowns again in 2026, and this start suggests we’re in for another year of watching the most dominant player in the sport do what she does best.
The Waters-Ben Johns mixed doubles partnership also delivered their 58th title together, dispatching Kate Fahey and Federico Staksrud in the semifinals before cruising to gold with scores of 11-8, 11-6 in the final. Fifty-eight joint titles. Read that again. Their chemistry and understanding of each other’s games continues to set a standard that no other mixed doubles team can match.
And in men’s doubles? Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio claimed gold in a thriller that was broadcast on CBS, showcasing professional pickleball to a mainstream audience. The match featured everything you want in championship pickleball—precise dinking exchanges, powerful drives, and a dramatic comeback from a 4-9 deficit in one game. For Johns, it’s a strong start to 2026. For Tardio, it’s continued proof that his partnership with Johns has serious championship potential, which matters for MLP team dynamics later this year.
USA Pickleball Launches Field Testing Program
Now let’s talk about something that could fundamentally change competitive pickleball: USA Pickleball announced a new field-testing program using Pickleball Instruments technology that will verify paddle compliance on-site at Golden Ticket events starting January 2026.
This is huge. For years, the concern has been that paddles might pass initial certification but then play differently in actual competition—either through breaking in, environmental factors, or modifications. The PBCoR (paddle/ball coefficient of restitution) testing that led to the banning of several power paddles last year showed us that equipment matters enormously for competitive integrity.
Now, USA Pickleball is taking the logical next step: real-time testing at amateur tournaments to ensure the paddles people are actually using comply with standards. This addresses multiple problems:
First, it reduces cheating. Players who might be tempted to use illegal equipment or modified paddles will think twice knowing there’s on-site testing.
Second, it standardizes competition. One of the frustrations in amateur tournaments has been the suspicion that some players have equipment advantages that aren’t legitimate. Field testing levels that playing field.
Third, it sends a clear message about the sport’s commitment to integrity. As pickleball grows and prize money increases at all levels, protecting the competitive environment becomes increasingly important.
The technology from Pickleball Instruments allows for efficient testing without creating massive bottlenecks at events. Expect this to become standard practice at higher-level amateur competitions moving forward.
MLP Unveils 2026 Rule Changes for Maximum Drama
Major League Pickleball announced significant rule updates for 2026 designed to increase strategic depth and fan engagement. The big changes:
Full roster usage: Teams can now rotate all six players per match instead of being limited to four active players per event. This is massive for team strategy. Coaches can now match up players based on specific opponents, rest stars for crucial matches, and develop deeper benches. Expect to see much more strategic lineup construction throughout the season.
Group play returns: MLP is going back to pool play formats, which creates more matches and more opportunities for upsets and storylines. Instead of straight single-elimination brackets, we’ll see teams face multiple opponents in group stages before advancing to knockout rounds.
Revamped standings points system: The league has adjusted how points are awarded for wins, losses, and game differentials. This should create more meaningful regular season matches and reduce the incentive to rest players early in events.
These changes build on 2025’s success (52% attendance increase, remember?) and address some of the competitive balance issues from last season. The expanded playoffs we already knew about, but these regular season format changes could be just as impactful for how teams approach roster construction and in-match strategy.
US Open Lottery: Your Shot at Pickleball’s Biggest Party
Finally, the 10th annual US Open Pickleball Championships player lottery is officially open through January 20th. If you’ve never experienced the US Open, it’s dubbed “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World” for good reason—it’s a week-long celebration in Naples, Florida (April 11-18) that draws thousands of athletes and spectators.
A few critical things to know if you’re entering:
- Partner up before the lottery closes: If you’re registering for doubles events, you must have a partner indicated before January 20th or you’re not eligible.
- Lottery winners get notified January 28th: Mark your calendar. Payment isn’t required until you receive confirmation, but spots fill fast once notifications go out.
- This is the 10th anniversary: Expect expanded experiences and special moments throughout the week. The 10-year milestone means extra attention and likely some surprises.
The demand is at record levels this year, so if you’re serious about getting in, make sure you’re registered correctly and have your partner situation locked down. Don’t be the person who enters the lottery solo for a doubles event and wonders why you didn’t get selected.
The Season Has Begun
We’re two weeks into 2026, and professional pickleball has already given us breakthrough champions, equipment integrity initiatives, league rule changes, and the anticipation of the sport’s biggest annual event. The PPA Indoor National Championships kick off this coming week (January 19-25) at Life Time Lakeville in Minnesota, featuring progressive draws and high-stakes competition.
If the first tournament of the year is any indication, we’re in for another wild ride in 2026. Let’s enjoy it.
— Ace