The APP Tour and the Global Pickleball Alliance are kicking off the 2026 year in Southeast Asia. The 2026 Leapmotor APP Kuala Lumpur Open is being held February 9 - 14, at the PLAYA Racquet Club @ PARC Subang.
For more information on the newly formed Global Pickleball Alliance, check out our article covering its formation from December:
Erik Tice
The APP Kuala Lumpur Open is a Tier 1 level tournament, with a prize pool of ~$50,000 on the line for the pros.
Many of the APP Tour's top American pros have traveled across the Pacific Ocean for this tournament. In fact, over 1,700 total participants are taking part in the action, one of the largest tournaments to ever take place in Malaysia.
How to Follow the APP Kuala Lumpur Open Brackets
How to Watch the APP Kuala Lumpur Open
The tournament is a progressive draw and streaming will begin during the Round of 16. There are three simultaneous streams:
- APPTV via The APP Tour YouTube channel
- SelkirkTV YouTube channel
- Leapmotor Malaysia YouTube channel
Round of 16
- Wednesday, 9am - 10pm local | Tuesday, 8pm - 9am ET
Quarterfinals
- Thursday, 9am - 10pm local | Wednesday, 8pm - 9am ET
Semifinals
- Friday, 8am - 10pm local | Thursday, 7pm - 9am ET
Championship Saturday
- Saturday, 9am - 6pm local | Friday, 8pm - 5am ET
Weather Outlook in Kuala Lumpur
Around this time of year in Kuala Lumpur, it is between wet seasons, but precipitation is still normal. Nearly every day will involve afternoon rain, but the facility does have covered ceilings. With highs in the low to mid-90s and lows in the mid-70s, it will be hot and humid. The humidity levels are scheduled to be in the 50% - 60% range throughout the tournament.
The hot and humid conditions in Kuala Lumpur will cause the ball to slow down, and players are going to need to really pay attention to their hydration levels.
Let's get into the action.
Women's Singles
Top Seeds
- Sofia Sewing
- Katerina Stewart
- Domenika Turkovic
- Amanda Hendry
Top Dark Horses
- (7) Roos Van Reek has some great groundstrokes from both sides, but the slow ball may hinder her game a bit
- (10) Nicola Schoeman is another top woman in the world and she has the talent to compete with the best at this tournament
Of note, the women's singles bracket will start in the Round of 32.
Prediction: I am guessing Sewing wins this one over Roos Van Reek
Men's Singles
Top Seeds
- Ronan Camron
- Ryler DeHeart
- Brandon Lane
- Jack Foster
Top Dark Horses
- Both (11) Phuc Huynh and (12) Hong Kit "Jack" Wong have a very good chance to win the whole thing
Prediction: Jack Wong defeats Phuc Huynh in the finals
Mixed Doubles
Top Seeds
- Megan Fudge/Richard Livornese, Jr.
- Sofia Sewing/Casey Diamond
- Roos Van Reek/Jack Munro
- Susannah Barr/Andre Millet
Storylines
- It seems the #1 seeds from 2025 are not playing together in 2026 - Jack Munro and Megan Fudge have different partners in this one
- Sofia Sewing and Casey Diamond have the most medals together on the APP Tour out of all partnerships in Kuala Lumpur
Prediction: Sewing and Diamond take home gold over Livornese and Fudge
Women's Doubles
Top Seeds
- Megan Fudge/Sofia Sewing
- Amanda Hendry/Katerina Stewart
- Shelby Bates/Roos Van Reek
- Susannah Barr/Yu-Chieh Hsieh
Storylines
- It was announced earlier this year that Franklin sponsored athletes, Megan Fudge and Sofia Sewing, would be teaming up in 2026
- Shelby Bates won multiple golds with Sewing in 2025 and she is playing with Van Reek in Malaysia
Prediction: Sewing and Fudge take home their first gold together over Bates and Van Reek
Men's Doubles
Top Seeds
- Tanner Tomassi/Richard Livornese, Jr.
- Jack Munro/Ryan Fu
- Thomas Yu/Max "Purple Jesus" Manthou
- Ryler DeHeart/Casey Diamond
Storylines
- This is the first time in a while that Jack Munro is not playing with Will Howells - Ryan Fu was the obvious partner for Munro
- Tomassi and Livornese Jr. did earn a gold medal in 2025, so they are favorites in this one
Prediction: Munro and Fu earn gold in their first tournament together
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