Jack Munro (L) and Richard Livornese Jr. (R) continue their dominance both domestically and internationally on the APP.
APP
Both the APP and PPA held dueling events in Asia last weekend.
Events from last weekend (with links to the TMS and brackets):
Let’s do a quick recap of the results, highlighting the winners, the upsets, and the top International players who made waves.
D-Joy 2026 Saigon Cup powered by APP
A huge chunk of the players who competed in the 2026 World Cup took the short flight from De Nang to Ho Chi Minh city, which meant that the D-Joy draws were packed with both US domestic and International talent.
Men’s Singles
Top seed and local favorite Phuc Huynh was upset in the 64s, opening a pathway for No. 8 Drake Palm grind his way to the finals. New APP player Jay Devilliers is realizing that the APP tour is deeper than one may think, losing to APP Regular Richard Livornese in the quarters. England’s Mikar Fisher made a surprise run to the semis before losing to the top ranked APP singles player Ronan Camron. Camron topped Palm in the final for his first APP international gold.
Women’s Singles
The machinations of the draw guaranteed a US-vs-International final, as two of the APP’s best (Kat Stewart and Bobbi Oshiro) made one semi, while two of Asia’s best (Taiwan’s Pei Chuan Kao and Vietnam’s Tranh Huynh) made the other. In the final, Huynh shocked the APP’s No. 1 Stewart with a 12-10 game three win for the gold for her first APP International gold and her second international pro medal in as many months after winning the Silver last month in the MB Ho Chi Minh City open.
Men’s Doubles
Purple Jesus Max Manthou apparently wore the correct color jerseys with his partner Trinh Linh Giang as they upset the top seeds and Penang Open gold medalists Quang Duong & Harsh Mehta on the way to the final. There, they fell to the APP’s top pair and No. 2 seeds Jack Munro & Richard Livornese Jr. 8,5.
Women’s Doubles
Roos van Reek, who’s two triple crowns in APP International events already this year, was stymied for another when she and partner Shelby Bates lost as the draw’s top seeds in the semis to Kat Stewart & Glauka Carvajal Lane in the semis. Steward and Lane could not keep the momentum, losing in the final to No. 2 seeds Megan Fudge & Vivian Glozman. This gives Fudge her first international gold since March and Glozman her third doubles gold since June.
Mixed Doubles
Bobbi Oshiro & Brandon Lane shocked the draw’s top seeds and dominant mixed team of Munro & van Reek in the semis, then finished up the gold by ousting surprise finalists Domenika Turkovic & Linh Giang Trinh in the final.
2026 PPA Asia Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup
This 1000-point event drew a big contingent of traveling pros who are starting to realize the value of competing in high-point PPA Asia and Australia events. A 1000 point event is the equivalent of a regular PPA tour stop, but the draws are significantly smaller and more shallow than a typical US-based event.
Men’s Singles
Tama Shimabukuro cruised to the singles title in Malaysia
PPA Asia
Frenchman Noe Khlif dusted off his Singles skills and cruised to the final from the top half, beating top international singles players Luc Pham and Harrison Brown along the way. However, in the final he couldn’t out-work the teenage magician Tama Shimabukuro, who got his own solid win over PPA Asia singles legend Hong kit Wong in the semis, then cruised past Khlif 8,5 for the gold.
Women’s Singles
No. 1 seed Kaitlyn Christian ran the gauntlet but came out on top in Women’s Singles. She beat fellow PPA top 10 Judit Castillo in the quarters, Aussie No. 1 Sahra Dennehy in the semis, then fellow PPA top-4 ranked player Brooke Buckner in the final.
Men’s Doubles
Top seeds Gabriel Tardio & Noe Khlif shook off some jet lag to cruise to the title. On the way, they beat out teams featuring India’s best (Armaan Bhatia) and Australia’s best (George Wall), then beat the No. 2 seeds Auggie Ge & Len Yang in the final. With the win, Tardio takes back over the No. 1 ranking in PPA Men’s Doubles (see here for the No. 1 Reigns on tour)
Women’s Doubles
Alix Truong & Jessie Irvine got two solid wins in the semis and finals over top international pairs to claim gold in Malaysia. In the semis, they beat the top Taiwan-based pair of Chao-Yi Wang & Ting Chieh Wei, then in the final they topped Australia’s two best in Sahra Dennehy & Danni-Elle Townsend.
Mixed Doubles
Jessie Irvine and Gabriel Tardio make their trip to Asia worthwhile with two golds.
PPA Asia
Gabriel Tardio teamed back up with his 2025-26 mixed partner Jessie Irvine, and the partnership paid off in spades, as the pair cruised to the gold medal to give each player the double for the weekend. In the final, they beat top Australian pair Danni-Elle Townsend & Joseph Wild in a barn burning 12-10 third game thriller.
With this story published, the Medal Tracker is updated online. Please visit the “International” tabs for a complete list of all prior Medal winners at all APP or PPA International events.
Next up for the Pro Pickleball? According to my Master Pickleball Schedule, both tours have domestic events next weekend: the APP in Overland Park and the PPA in Mesa. Also, MLP Australia kicks off next weekend; we’ll do a preview of both MLP Asia and MLP Australia before then.
Resources I rely on while covering various International events:
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