Pickleball
CardsVeolia Texas Open presented by Proton
March 9–15, 2026 · The Courts of McKinney · McKinney, TX · PPA Tour
Men's Singles
| # | Player | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter Johnson | Newport Beach gold medalist |
| 2 | Federico Staksrud | Cape Coral gold — 18th career PPA singles title |
| 3 | Chris Haworth | Mesa Cup gold; multiple titles in 2026 |
| 4 | Christian Alshon | Consistent top-4 finisher in 2026 |
Ben Johns is not competing in singles this week — doubles only. This opens the men’s draw considerably.
Women's Singles
| # | Player | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Leigh Waters | Newport Beach gold — streak now at 648 days |
| 2 | Kate Fahey | Consistent top-2 finisher all season |
| 3 | Lea Jansen | Newport Beach finalist |
| 4 | Kaitlyn Christian | Cape Coral gold medalist |
Round of 16 is live today, Thursday March 12 on PickleballTV. Qualifying rounds completed Monday–Wednesday.
Men's Doubles
| # | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Johns / Gabe Tardio — undefeated in 2026 doubles (5 straight golds) |
| 2 | Christian Alshon / Hayden Patriquin |
| 3 | JW Johnson / Dylan Klinger |
| 4 | Federico Staksrud / Andrei Daescu |
Women's Doubles
| # | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Bright / Anna Leigh Waters — undefeated WD partnership in 2026 |
| 2 | Jorja Johnson / Tyra Black |
| 3 | Parris Todd / Rachel Rohrabacher |
| 4 | Lacy Schneeman / Tina Pisnik |
Mixed Doubles
| # | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns | Newport Beach gold — reclaimed MX title after Mesa loss |
| 2 | JW Johnson / Jorja Johnson | Sibling duo |
| 3 | Anna Bright / Hayden Patriquin | Upset Waters/Johns at Mesa |
| 4 | Alix Truong / Christian Alshon | New partnership |
Newport Beach Open (Mar 2–8) — Final Results
- Women's Singles Gold — Anna Leigh Waters def. Lea Jansen 11-2, 11-1 (streak: 647 days)
- Men's Singles Gold — Hunter Johnson
- Women's Doubles Gold — Waters / Bright
- Men's Doubles Gold — Ben Johns / Gabe Tardio (4th straight in 2026)
- Mixed Doubles Gold — Johns / Waters def. Patriquin / Alshon 11-6, 11-2, 3-11, 11-8
Professional Tournament Schedule
The 2026 professional pickleball season spans three major circuits — the PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball (MLP), and the APP Tour — plus marquee international and USA Pickleball events.
| Date | Event | Location | Tour | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12–18 | Carvana Masters Mission Hills CC |
Rancho Mirage, CA | PPA |
MS🥇 C. Haworth 🥈 J. Sock 🥉 C. Alshon
WS🥇 A.L. Waters 🥈 K. Fahey 🥉 L. Truluck MD🥇 Johns / Tardio 🥈 Alshon / Patriquin WD🥇 Waters / Bright 🥈 Kawamoto / Kawamoto MX🥇 Waters / Johns 🥈 Bright / Patriquin |
| Feb 10–15 | Cape Coral Open The Courts of Cape Coral |
Cape Coral, FL | PPA |
MS🥇 F. Staksrud 🥈 H. Johnson 🥉 C. Alshon
WS🥇 K. Christian 🥈 G. Bouchard 🥉 L. Jansen MD🥇 Johns / Tardio 🥈 JW Johnson / Klinger WD🥇 Waters / Bright 🥈 Kawamoto / Kawamoto MX🥇 Waters / Johns 🥈 Bright / Patriquin |
| Feb 16–22 | Carvana Mesa Cup Mesa Convention Center |
Mesa, AZ | PPA |
MS🥇 C. Haworth 🥈 B. Johns 🥉 H. Patriquin
WS🥇 A.L. Waters 🥈 K. Fahey 🥉 B. Buckner MD🥇 Johns / Tardio 🥈 Alshon / Patriquin WD🥇 Waters / Bright 🥈 J. Johnson / T. Black MX🥇 Bright / Patriquin ⚡ 🥈 Waters / Johns |
| Mar 2–8 | SXY Newport Beach Open Tennis Club at Newport Beach |
Newport Beach, CA | PPA |
MS🥇 H. Johnson 🥈 F. Staksrud
WS🥇 A.L. Waters 🥈 L. Jansen MD🥇 Johns / Tardio 🥈 Alshon / Patriquin WD🥇 Waters / Bright MX🥇 Johns / Waters |
| Mar 9–15 | Veolia Texas Open presented by Proton The Courts of McKinney |
McKinney, TX | PPA | ● In Progress |
| Apr 2026 | PPA Nashville Open New PPA Tour city debut |
Nashville, TN | PPA | — |
| Apr 11–18 | US Open Pickleball Championships One of the sport's most prestigious events |
Naples, FL | USA PB | — |
| May 4–10 | PPA Finals Season-ending PPA championship |
Rancho San Clemente, CA | PPA | — |
| May 22–25 | MLP Dallas — Season Opener Major League Pickleball begins |
Dallas, TX | MLP | — |
| Jun–Jul 2026 | PPA Chicago Open New PPA Tour city |
Chicago, IL | PPA | — |
| Jul 2026 | PPA Malibu Open Scenic new PPA Tour stop |
Malibu, CA | PPA | — |
| Aug 6–9 | MLP Playoffs Major League Pickleball postseason |
Dallas, TX | MLP | — |
| Aug 31 | Veolia National Championships | TBD | PPA | — |
| Sep–Oct 2026 | PPA International — Kuala Lumpur First Asian stop on the PPA circuit |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | INTL | — |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | PPA International — Brisbane Australian debut for the PPA Tour |
Brisbane, Australia | INTL | — |
| Nov 2026 | PPA International — Hong Kong Asia-Pacific expansion continues |
Hong Kong | INTL | — |
| Nov–Dec 2026 | Pickleball World Championships Premier global championship event |
Dallas, TX | PPA | — |
* Schedule is subject to change. Always verify dates and locations on official tour websites before traveling.
Top Players in the World
Rankings are composite based on DUPR ratings, PPA Tour points, and PickleWave ELO as of February 2026.
The History of Pickleball
Pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three fathers — Joel Pritchard (a US Congressman), Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Returning home to restless children, they improvised a game using a badminton court, ping-pong paddles, and a perforated plastic ball. The rules evolved to accommodate players of all ages and skill levels.
The unusual name has two popular origin stories: some say it was named after Pritchard's dog, Pickles, who chased errant balls; others trace the name to the "pickle boat" in crew rowing — a team cobbled together from leftover oarsmen — because the game was itself cobbled from parts of other sports.
From a backyard curiosity, pickleball grew slowly through school physical education programs and retirement communities before exploding into a mainstream phenomenon in the 2020s. Today it is the fastest-growing sport in the United States with over 36 million players and a robust professional circuit spanning three major tours.
The Invention
Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum create pickleball on a summer afternoon on Bainbridge Island, WA, to entertain their families.
First Permanent Court
The first permanent pickleball court is built in the backyard of Bob O'Brian, a close friend of the Pritchard family.
Corporation Founded
Pritchard and associates form a corporation to protect the sport and develop equipment for what they hoped would become a widely played game.
First Known Tournament
The first known pickleball tournament is held at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. Steve Paranto wins the first-ever singles title.
USA Pickleball Association Founded
The USAPA (now USA Pickleball) is established to grow the sport, standardize rules, and run national competitions. The first rulebook is written.
National Reach
Pickleball is being played in all 50 US states, largely driven by adoption in retirement communities and recreational centers across the Sun Belt.
USA Pickleball National Championships
The first USA Pickleball National Championships is held, drawing hundreds of competitors and cementing the sport's competitive tier.
USAPA Rulebook Published
The official USAPA rulebook is officially published and standardized, providing a universal framework for recreational and competitive play.
US Open Pickleball Championships
The first US Open Pickleball Championships is held in Naples, Florida — one of the sport's most prestigious and heavily attended annual events.
Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Launch
The PPA Tour is founded, creating the first dedicated professional pickleball circuit with prize money and national media coverage.
Major League Pickleball (MLP)
Tom Dundon launches Major League Pickleball, a team-based league that attracts celebrity investors (LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant) and dramatically elevates the sport's profile.
Fastest-Growing Sport in America
Pickleball is officially declared the fastest-growing sport in the United States by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), with participation up over 159% in three years.
Global Expansion & TV Deals
Pickleball secures broadcast deals with CBS, ESPN, and Amazon. International federations form across Europe and Asia. Prize money at top events exceeds $1 million.
World Championships & International Tours
The Carvana PPA Tour announces a 20-tournament schedule including the Pickleball World Championships in Dallas and international stops in Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane, and Hong Kong.
How to Play Pickleball
Pickleball is played on a 20×44 ft court (the same size as a doubles badminton court) with a net set at 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. Games are typically played to 11 points, winning by 2. Matches can be best of 3 games.
The Serve
Serves must be made underhand, with the paddle contact below the waist. The ball must be hit diagonally cross-court and land in the opposite service box. The server's arm must be moving in an upward arc at the moment of contact. Only one serve attempt is allowed (unless a let is called).
Double-Bounce Rule
When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning it, and then the serving team must also let it bounce before playing it. After these two bounces, the ball may be volleyed in the air or played off the bounce. This rule ensures longer rallies.
The Kitchen (NVZ)
The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) is the 7-foot area on each side of the net, nicknamed "the kitchen." Players cannot volley the ball while standing in the kitchen. You may enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced, but must exit before volleying again.
Scoring
Only the serving team can score points. Games are played to 11 points, win by 2. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: server's score, receiver's score, and server number (1 or 2). The first server in a doubles game begins as "server 2" to prevent early advantage.
Side Switching
In doubles, both players on the serving team get to serve before a side-out (except at the start of the game). After a side-out, the receiving team becomes the serving team. Players on the serving team switch sides after each point they score.
Faults
A fault (point or side-out) occurs when: the ball is hit out of bounds, the ball does not clear the net, the server misses the service box, a player volleys from the kitchen, or the ball bounces twice before being returned. The non-faulting team wins the rally.
Line Calls
All lines are "in" except on a serve: serves that land on the NVZ line are considered faults. On other shots, a ball touching any line is considered in-bounds. Players are responsible for making line calls on their own side of the court.
Let Calls
A "let" is called when a served ball clips the top of the net and lands in the correct service box — the serve is replayed. Lets may also be called to stop play for safety reasons (a stray ball on the court, for example).
Equipment Rules
Paddles must be smooth-faced (no rubber), with a combined length and width not exceeding 24 inches and a length no more than 17 inches. The ball must be a polymer plastic ball with holes, approved by USA Pickleball. Indoor and outdoor balls differ in hole count and hardness.
🆚 Singles vs. Doubles
In singles, only one player per side. The server always serves from the right side when their score is even and from the left side when odd. There is no "server 1/server 2" designation. All other rules remain the same.
⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes
Forgetting the double-bounce rule, volleying from the kitchen, calling the score incorrectly in doubles, and serving overhand are the four most frequent errors new players make. The NVZ rule (kitchen) is the most penalized in recreational play.
The Pickleball Court
Zone
Zone
Zone
Zone
Court diagram — 44 × 20 ft (to scale)
| Court Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Total length | 44 feet (13.4 m) |
| Total width | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| NVZ (kitchen) depth | 7 feet (2.1 m) each side |
| Net height (sides) | 36 inches (91 cm) |
| Net height (center) | 34 inches (86 cm) |
| Service box length | 15 feet (4.6 m) |