Quang Duong Signs Multi-Year Deal with the APP Tour — With a Catch

Less than a year after his UPA contract was terminated, QD is back competing stateside – this time returning to the APP Tour

Update, Wednesday, March 4:

We chatted with Duc, Quang's father, today and got some more intel about the situation.

Turns out, QD's multi-year deal with the APP only stipulates he plays four events per year, and it's not exclusive.

Earlier this year, we posed a question: "Is Quang Duong returning to the PPA Tour?"

Now we know the answer: he most certainly is not. At least not anytime soon.

According to a post from the APP on X, Quang has signed a multi-year deal with the APP Tour instead.

How We Got Here

Over Memorial Day weekend of 2025, news spread that Duong had played in an unsanctioned tournament in Vietnam.

Fast forward to that July, and QD was back in Vietnam while all 16 Major League Pickleball Premier teams, including his own, the LA Mad Drops, competed in the Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, MI.

Is Quang Duong Returning to the PPA Tour?

“In order to be the best, you’ve got to play on the PPA Tour. And QD wants to be the best.”

The Dink PickleballAlex E. Weaver

That proved to be the final straw; the UPA terminated QD's contract, citing "multiple and repeated violations of the exclusivity terms of the agreement."

What Happens Now?

Quang has been playing in Asia since.

But a recent spotting of him and his dad Duc and brother Bao at PPA Masters had some speculating that a new deal could be afoot. His new signature paddle with Wika was even recently approved by the UPA-A.

The APP Tour appeared to take a hit talent-wise recently, with top women's player Sofia Sewing reportedly departing for the PPA Tour.

Rumor had it that she'd be eligible to play MLP this season and would potentially switch over to the PPA full-time next year.

But a new post from the APP Tour says otherwise:

What We Don't Know

This signing spree presents more questions than answers right now.

Here's what we don't know, yet:

• Are these signings new, or are they just being announced now?
• Are the contracts exclusive, or can these players still compete in other tours?
• Are the contracts season-long, or limited to a certain number of events?
• Is Sofia Sewing still playing MLP this season, or has that changed?
• Is this guaranteed salary? How much money are we talking here?

We’re hearing there will be about 20 of these so-called “signings” once the dust settles.

We had APP Tour CMO Tom Webb on the PicklePod recently to discuss the future of the tour – and Sofia's status specifically. You can check that clip out below:

PPA pro Zane Navratil weighs in:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zane Navratil (@zanenavratilpickleball)

This is a developing story; we will add additional information as it becomes available.