Must-Watch Pickleball Headed to Hangzhou

The pro player lists and seedings have dropped for the Hangzhou Open. It’s the final stop of the PPA Tour Asia in 2025 and the lineup is guaranteeing fans a blockbuster curtain closer. Here are five things to watch out for when the action gets underway December 3-6.  

1. Number one in town after the crown

Federico Staksrud just lifted the trophy at the 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships in Dallas and rolls into Hangzhou as the No.1 ranked singles player on the PPA Tour. He’s headlining the singles draw, but Staksrud isn’t stopping there. He’s teaming up with Alix Truong – fresh off an MB Vietnam Cup title – in Mixed Doubles, and linking with Armaan Bhatia in Men’s Doubles. Three events, three chances at gold.

2. The triple crown king returns

Connor Garnett‘s back in Asia and on the hunt for more gold. The tour’s maiden triple crown winner went undefeated at the Sansan Fukuoka Open. Can he do it again and go six for six on the continent? He’s paired with UPA Asia Trailblazer Ting Chieh Wei in Mixed Doubles and Blaine Hovenier in Men’s Doubles. The target’s on his back.

3. Home court advantage for China’s top-ranked star

Yufei Long sits atop the PPA Asia Women’s Singles rankings and she’ll have the hometown crowd behind her in Hangzhou. Long’s could be in for serious court time across all three events – Mixed Doubles with Blaine Hovenier who is on his Asia debut, Women’s Doubles with Sahra Dennehy, as well as her Singles. Medals are on her mind in every bracket.

4. Gold medal partnership forms in Women’s Doubles

Chao Yi Wang and Alix Truong are teaming up, and that should terrify everyone else in the draw. Truong took the title at the MB Vietnam Open, while Wang went back-to-back between the Vietnam and Malaysia Cups. Two players who’ve already tasted gold in Asia are now on the same side of the net. Heavy favorites doesn’t even cover it.

5. Men’s Singles is loaded

Staksrud and Garnett sit at the Men’s Singles field, but the depth in this draw is ridiculous. Hong Kit Wong, Blaine Hovenier, Thomas Yu, Hoang Nam Ly, Hien Truong, Giang Trinh – titles and medals are scattered all through this field. Every match will need popcorn at the ready. No one’s getting an easy path to the podium.

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