With PPA Tour Asia rolling out inaugural stops and the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) expanding across the region, Asian players finally have clear pathways—ranking points, real prize purses, and broadcast courts—to prove they belong next to the global elite. From Japan and China to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, these pros are converting opportunity into results.
Yuta Funemizu (Japan)
A former world-class soft tennis player, Funemizu made history in early 2025 as the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract with the UPA, granting full-time access to the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. With elite hand speed, sharp counters in the transition zone, and tour security that guarantees top-tier reps, he’s poised to become Japan’s first true crossover star.
Credits to: Pickleball.com
Yufei Long (China)
Long delivered a signature moment for the new PPA Tour Asia circuit, saving championship points to claim the inaugural women’s singles title in Malaysia, then added more hardware at Fukuoka and Vietnam to sit atop the region’s rankings.
Credits to: South China Morning Post
Giang Trinh (Vietnam)
Trinh authored the men’s breakthrough at the same Malaysia stop, ripping through qualifying and then lifting the trophy on Championship Sunday. His court coverage and heavy drives travel well, and the qualifier-to-title arc suggests there’s plenty more ceiling to reach.
Credits to: PPA Tour Asia
Ryan Lam (Hong Kong)
A local cult favorite turned regional threat, Lam used a home wildcard at the Hong Kong Open to post a marquee upset and reach the late rounds. His rise mirrors Hong Kong’s pickleball boom: fast hands, first-strike forehand, and fitness that holds up through weekend gauntlets.
Credits to: Ryan Lam
Anna Clarice Patrimonio (Philippines)
The former tennis pro has become one of the faces of Philippine pickleball, stacking WPC Asia medals across singles and doubles. Her tour-tested mentality and improving DUPR trend line point to a player who can bank results across formats as the schedule intensifies.
Credits to: Chennai Super Champs
Wong Hong Kit (Hong Kong)
Asia’s current men’s singles No. 1 after a gold on home soil at the Hong Kong Open, with bronzes at Malaysia and Fukuoka and points from Vietnam. Finals and key matches are already on the PPA Asia channel.
Credits to: PPA Tour Asia
Phuc Huynh (Vietnam)
The home hero in Ho Chi Minh City: Huynh blasted through the MB Vietnam Open men’s singles final (11–5, 11–1), a week after reaching the Fukuoka final opposite Connor Garnett.
Credits to: PPA Tour Asia
Yu-Chieh Hsieh (Chinese Taipei)
Two runner-up finishes—Hong Kong and Fukuoka—have Hsieh sitting No. 2 on PPA Tour Asia’s women’s singles list.
Credits to: Yu-Chieh Hsieh
Pickleball Pros in Asia
With PPA Tour Asia, WPC Asia, and other tournaments expanding brackets and broadcast windows, expect sharper cross-border rivalries and faster talent cycles. This new wave of athletes underscores the rise of pickleball in Asia, where competition levels continue to climb. The growth of pickleball asia is setting the stage for the next breakout stars, so circle their names now and check the draws early, because momentum moves fast and the next champion may emerge any weekend.
