In breaking news, Quang Duong has been suspended and fined by the United Pickleball Association (UPA) for a breach of contract.

According to league sources, over the Memorial Day Weekend, Quang played in a non-UPA-sanctioned pickleball event in Vietnam. He actually posted about it on his Instagram account:

Upon discovering about Duong's play in a non-UPA-sanctioned tournament, the UPA decided to take swift measures.

The UPA has fined and suspended Duong in the following manners:

Suspended for one Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) event (PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup)
Suspended for one Major League Pickleball (MLP) event (Edward Jones MLP Phoenix) - starts tomorrow
- Editor's note: League sources have told The Dink after publication, the suspension is for four matches, NOT the entire MLP Phoenix event
Fined $50,000

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The Dink was able to ascertain this quote from UPA sources:

“MLP and PPA have invested very significantly in our player contracts, and they are written to ensure event exclusivity so that the league, the Tour, and our players can work together to grow the sport in mutually beneficial ways.

When contract terms are violated, there have to be consequences. We look forward to having Quang participate in MLP and PPA events following this brief suspension, and trust this issue will quickly be put behind all of us.” - UPA sources

Duong actually played in an event recently in Vietnam along with many players from the Phoenix Flames. Because of this, he is very familiar with how the approval process works with such events.

This is not the first legal battle for Quang Duong

"Quang Duong is under contract with Selkirk through April of 2025.

Following multiple contract breaches he made over the course of months, with the first dating back to September 4th, both on social media and at in-person events, we continued our efforts to work with him to…
— The Dink Pickleball (@Pickleball) January 8, 2025

Quang Duong was issued a cease and desist order from Selkirk, after playing with other manufacturers’ paddles in the PPA Masters, while he was a signed Selkirk player. Selkirk cited "multiple contract breaches," which is the same thing the UPA is citing now.

In this instance, he openly played in an unsanctioned UPA event, and is now paying the price.

Ramifications of the Suspensions

We know Duong has been suspended for one MLP event and one PPA event. Here are the ramifications of the suspension:

In MLP, the LA Mad Drops play six matches this weekend in MLP Phoenix.

The LA Mad Drops will be forced to play the six matches (24% of their season) without Duong. Their options to replace Duong alongside Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, and Hunter Johnson are: use their third guy on the roster, Wes Burrows (which I am hearing is not going to happen), OR use on-site alternate, Spencer Smith. There is a remote chance that Phoenix has other on-site alternates, but the information I have says these are their options.

For the PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup, it looks like Jade Kawamoto and Jay Devilliers will be looking for a new partner, in the tournament that is taking place starting June 16. The deadline to register (or in this case, change partners, is June 9, at 5pm.

Stay tuned to The Dink newsletter and socials, as there is surely more to unfold in this saga between the UPA and Quang Duong.

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