7 PPA Hong Kong Takeaways That Shake Up the Rankings

PPA Hong Kong was a 1500-point event with slow courts, surprising exits, and a fresh debate about singles versus doubles. Here are the seven takeaways that matter most for players and fans.

PPA Hong Kong was the biggest Asia event the tour has ever run, and it quietly rewrote how we think about court surface, singles, and who is actually playing the best pickleball right now.

If you only looked at the brackets, you saw upsets and early exits. If you dug into the details, you saw a lot of lessons you can use on your own court.

These takeaways come from the latest Pickle Pod, featured on The Dink Pickleball on YouTube, where Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty broke down the week.

Zane was on site, so the details come straight from the court.

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1. Why Was PPA Hong Kong Such a Big Deal?

PPA Hong Kong was the largest Asia event on the calendar, and nearly every top pro showed up.

It carried the name "slam" but only awarded 1,500 points, the same as a cup. That naming confused plenty of fans, including the hosts.

Still, the event happened in a huge new facility that used to be part of the airport, tied to a multi-billion dollar development.

For a sport that has grown to 24.3 million American players, international growth is the next frontier, and this was a statement.

If you want the full results, the Hong Kong Slam recap covers the brackets, and you can see the fashion in the best dressed pros at the Hong Kong Slam.

2. How Much Does a Slower Court Surface Change the Winners?

A slower surface with less bounce hurts ball strikers and helps players who get everything back. That is why Chris Haworth struggled.

His passing shots rely on balls clearing the net by an inch and then jumping, and the PPA Hong Kong courts did not give him that.

Players like Noah Clee and Tama benefit from the same conditions because they extend rallies and wait for mistakes.

Pickleball court surface matters more than most people think, so match your game plan to the court you are on.

Here is how to adjust when the bounce dies:

Take the ball earlier: Move forward and catch it before it sits down.
Add more topspin: Spin helps you get a little extra kick off a dead surface.
Be patient: Extend points instead of forcing winners that the court will not reward.

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3. Is Chris Haworth Actually in a Slump?

Chris Haworth is in a slump by his own standards, not by anyone else’s, and the PPA Hong Kong surface explains a lot of it.

Zane put it simply: he is still the number one player in the world, but any of the top three can win three out of four tournaments.

Hunter Johnson has done exactly that lately, with his only miss coming in a round of 64 in Chicago.

The podcast power ranking has Hunter, Chris, and Federico Staksrud within a hair of each other.

Hunter and Fed even flip-flopped results for 14 straight matches before Hunter won two in a row.

To see how the last big event played out, check the PPA Chicago Cup recap.

4. Is Singles Harder Than Doubles?

Singles is harder physically, but doubles is harder to master, and that is why the same doubles teams keep winning.

Zane’s take is that singles rewards athleticism more, so it is easier to reach number one in singles pickleball than in doubles.

Nico agreed, pointing out that tennis players can jump into singles and do well, while deep runs in doubles almost never come from newcomers.

The reason is nuance. Research on a 15-game singles pickleball tournament found players cover far more ground alone, yet setting up a dink point and winning a hands battle is much harder to do consistently.

If you want to get better at the part that decides doubles, start with pickleball kitchen strategy and learn how to win a hands battle.

5. What Happened When Zane Faced Chris Haworth?

Zane got a game point against the world number one, and a line call he chose not to make decided the moment.

After losing game one, he started ripping returns against Chris’s serve and clawed back from a big deficit to 10 to 9.

On game point, a close ball landed near the line and he played it instead of calling it.

He later realized it was out, and the ball did not skid the way a line ball should.

Zane admitted a missing challenge system meant he gave even more benefit of the doubt than usual.

That is a useful reminder: call the ball you see, and make the decision in real time. You can read more on this in 12 unwritten rules of pickleball.

6. Why Does the Ball Matter So Much?

The ball changes how every shot plays, and even the paint color can affect speed and durability.

PPA Hong Kong used the Lifetime ball powered by JOOLA, which confused the hosts almost as much as the “slam” label.

Zane made a strong point about color: neon green Duras played faster and broke more than the white ones, so paint is not cosmetic.

Nico raised the new Selkirk S2, which is brighter and easier to see at 6:00 in the morning.

His worry is adoption, because most players stick with the ball the pros use, like people who refuse to try a new board game.

You can read the specs in the Selkirk S2 Pro ball breakdown, confirm any model against the USA Pickleball approved ball list, and protect yourself with the fake Life Time pickleballs warning.

7. What Did the Upsets Tell Us About Women's Singles?

Women’s singles still runs through Anna Leigh Waters, with Kate Fahey right behind, and Andie Dikosavljevic proving she belongs in the conversation.

Anna Leigh was not in the PPA Hong Kong draw, and neither was Kate, yet Andie still won the bracket.

In Zane’s pro pickleball power rankings, he puts Anna Leigh first and Kate second, then Andie among the contenders.

What Can You Take Back to Your Own Court?

You can apply the biggest lessons from Hong Kong at your next session, whatever your level.

Check the surface first: Hit a few balls before you decide whether to attack or extend points.
Warm up to the ball: A different ball changes depth, bounce, and spin, so give yourself time to adjust.
Be honest on line calls: A good reputation lasts longer than any single point.
Respect the soft game: It decides more doubles points than any highlight shot. Topspin dink techniques are a great place to start.
Stay patient in a slump: Even the number one player in the world has stretches where results lag behind ability. Here is how to break a pickleball slump.

Looking Ahead to the Nations Cup

The next big stop is the MLP Nations Cup, which brings team play and fresh storylines.

The hosts noted that Blaine Hovenier is not playing for Team Canada, which got a laugh and plenty of teasing.

For rosters and details, see the MLP Nations Cup preview.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is PPA Hong Kong?

PPA Hong Kong was a major PPA Tour event in Asia, billed as a slam but worth 1,500 points like a cup. It drew nearly every top pro and marked a big step for international growth.

Why did Chris Haworth lose early at PPA Hong Kong?

The slower surface and lower bounce hurt his passing shots, which depend on balls jumping after they clear the net. Players who return everything, like Noah Clee, got an advantage.

Is singles harder than doubles in pickleball?

Singles is more physically demanding, but doubles is harder to master because of the nuance in the soft game and hands battles. That is why it is easier to become number one in singles.

Does ball color affect how a pickleball plays?

Yes. According to Zane, the paint and coloring can change speed, bounce, and durability, which is why different colored Duras played very differently.

Who is the best men's singles player right now?

Chris Haworth, Hunter Johnson, and Federico Staksrud are extremely close. Hunter has won three of the last four tournaments, so many would put him first right now.