Last Updated on December 15, 2025 by Drew Pierce
If you thought the holiday season was going to slow down the pickleball news cycle, you thought wrong. We just witnessed history in New Delhi, saw tennis royalty pick up a paddle in Mumbai, and now we’re staring down the barrel of the final PPA event of the year where a certain mother-daughter duo is making a comeback.
The garlands have been handed out, the draws are out, and the jet lag is real. Let’s dive in.
The Kings of India: Mumbai Smashers Lift the IPBL Trophy
We have our first-ever Indian Pickleball League champions, and folks, it’s the Cinderella story we didn’t know we needed. The Mumbai Smashers—who had to fight tooth and nail just to make the playoffs—completely dismantled the Hyderabad Royals 5-1 in the Grand Finale this weekend in New Delhi.
If you read last week’s column, you know Mumbai had to survive the Eliminator just to get a shot. Well, they didn’t just survive; they thrived. First, they knocked out the top-seeded Chennai Super Warriors in Qualifier 2, sending the tournament favorites packing. Then, they carried that momentum straight into the final against Hyderabad.
Quang Duong was undeniably the MVP. The World No. 3 has been an absolute cheat code all tournament, and he saved his best for last, dominating the men’s singles and then anchoring the men’s doubles with Ammol Ramchandani. But the real story? The emergence of 19-year-old Indian prodigy Pearl Amalsadiwala. She stepped up in a massive way in women’s doubles, partnering with American pro Allison Harris to take down the formidable Hyderabad duo of Megan Fudge and Shreya Chakraborty 15-10.
Hyderabad’s only bright spot came from—you guessed it—Megan Fudge, who put on a masterclass in women’s singles to win her match, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Mumbai freight train. The atmosphere in the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall was deafening. This wasn’t just a tournament; it was a proof of concept. India is ready for the big leagues.
Agassi vs. Bopanna: Tennis Legends Dinking in Mumbai
Speaking of India, the hype train didn’t stop at the IPBL finals. On Friday, we saw something special in Mumbai as part of the league’s promotional push: Andre Agassi stepping onto the pickleball court to face Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna.
Now, we know Agassi has been bullish on pickleball (remember the Pickleball Slam?), but seeing him trade dinks with Bopanna in front of a raucous Indian crowd felt different. It wasn’t just a celebrity exhibition; it was a symbolic passing of the torch in a country where racket sports are religion. Agassi looked sharp, sporting that signature focus, and while it was a friendly “curtain-raiser” for the upcoming 2026 season, the message was clear: Global icons are buying in, and the Indian market is the next frontier.
Daytona Beach Preview: The Return of Team Waters
Alright, let’s bring it back stateside. The PPA Tour is heading to Florida for the season finale—the Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open (Dec 18-22)—and the draws officially dropped on Thursday. The headline? Leigh Waters is back.
That’s right. The OG mother-daughter duo is reuniting. Anna Leigh Waters (ALW) will be pairing up with her mom, Leigh, in women’s doubles. It’s been a minute since we’ve seen them consistently together on championship Sunday, and frankly, it’s just good for the soul. They’re the No. 2 seed, sitting right behind the new powerhouse pairing of Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto. If the bracket holds, we could see a Waters vs. Bright/Kawamoto final, which would be an absolute popcorn match to close out the year.
On the men’s side, Federico Staksrud is the top seed in singles (no surprise there), but keep an eye on Collin Shick. He’s returning to the venue where he shocked the world as a qualifier a couple of years ago. There’s something about Daytona that brings out the magic in him.
Partner Shakeups: The 2026 Merry-Go-Round Begins
While the pros are focused on Daytona, the backroom dealings are already done. We’re starting to get confirmation on 2026 partnerships, and the landscape is shifting. The PPA and MLP drafts are looming, and the “bagel” announcements (where players announce they are splitting) are trickling in. I’ll have a full breakdown of the new teams in our year-end review next week, but let’s just say: don’t get too attached to your favorite 2025 duos. The chemistry experiments are about to start all over again.
Ace’s Shot of the Week
My favorite moment from the last seven days? It has to be Quang Duong’s ATP (Around the Post) in the IPBL Final. He didn’t just hit it; he celebrated before the ball even landed. That’s the kind of irrational confidence I’m trying to bring into 2026.
That’s it for this week, fam. If you’re in Florida, get to Pictona at Holly Hill and watch the pros close out the season. For the rest of us, it’s time to wrap those gifts (seriously, get the overgrips) and maybe sneak in one last open play session before the snow sticks.
See you on the courts!