US-Based PPA Stars Dominate the 2026 Hong Kong Slam
More than 1,000 players entered the 2026 Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, where the PPA's US-based stars dominated the later rounds against top Asian and Australian talent.
The Professional Pickleball Association's Asian swing rolled into Hong Kong last weekend for the 2026 Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, and it turned out to be one of the biggest pro fields ever assembled in Asian pickleball. More than 1,000 players signed up for the event, which, like the Australian Cup in Brisbane the week before, carried 1,500 PPA tour ranking points and drew many of the tour's top names.
Although the tournament was held half a world away from the US, the seedings looked much like a domestic PPA stop, with US-based players filling the top spots and going deep into the later rounds. The draws also featured leading players from across Asia and Australia, which produced plenty of contrasting playing styles throughout the week. In the mixed pro final, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns took the title once again. The event was also played under the PPA's new format, which has dropped bronze medal matches since September 2026.
For players and fans in Malaysia and the wider region, the Hong Kong Slam showed how fast the PPA Asia circuit is growing, and how much ground Asian players still need to make up against the established US stars. Full draws and results are on the event's PickleballTournaments.com page.
Source: Forbes (Todd Boss)