UPA Contract Controversy, Nick Kyrgios Debut Rumours & The Best of 2025 Awards

Join hosts Chris Beaumont and Gordon Watson for a blockbuster week in pickleball news. This episode dives deep into the major UPA contract dispute that has seen top stars like James Ignatovich and Ryan Fu terminated for playing in Japan. The duo also breaks down the massive changes coming to the PPA Tour global rankings, the restructuring of the Polish Pickleball Tour, and the exciting rumours surrounding tennis star Nick Kyrgios making his professional pickleball debut in Australia.

Plus, we recap the APP Tour Championships in Fort Lauderdale and wrap up the year with our exclusive Best of 2025 Awards, crowning the breakout stars, best teams, and the most viral point of the year.

In This Episode:

• UPA Player Suspensions: Full analysis of the controversy surrounding the UPA terminating contracts for players participating in Pickleball Japan Federation events, including the lesser sanction for Paris Todd.
• Global Ranking Unification: How the PPA Tour and PPA Asia are aligning their ranking systems to create a unified world tour for 2026.
• Nick Kyrgios & Jack Sock: The rumours heating up about Kyrgios teaming up with Jack Sock for the PPA Australian Open.
• Kyle Yates to Vietnam: Hall of Famer Kyle Yates signs on as the head coach for the DJY Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, solidifying Vietnam as a new talent hotbed.
• Polish Tour Rebrand: A look at the new tiered tournament structure (500, 300, 200 series) launching in Poland for 2026.
• APP Tour Finals Recap: A rundown of the winners from Fort Lauderdale, including first-time gold medalist Ryler DeHeart and women’s singles champion Sion Mendez.

The Best of 2025 Awards: Chris and Gordon hand out their end-of-year accolades:

• Breakout Stars: Mentions for Sara Denera, Yu Fei Long, and 14-year-old phenom Tama Shimabukuro.
• Best Team: The Bengaluru Jawans (Warhawks) and the Columbus Sliders.
• Best League: Why the World Pickleball League set the standard for 2025.
• Best Point of the Year: The viral rally from the European Championships featuring Pep Canyadell and Marc Maragaria.

Links & Resources:

• Download the magazine: worldpickleballmagazine.com.
• Follow us on Instagram: @worldpickleballmagazine.

Keywords: Pickleball Podcast, UPA Contracts, PPA Tour Rankings, Nick Kyrgios Pickleball, APP Tour Results, Kyle Yates, World Pickleball League, Pickleball Awards 2025.