This Week in RADL Wire: From coast to coast, the competition is heating up across the racquet sports landscape. Following the debut success of the LT Open—where Lea Jansen and Christopher Haworth claimed top honors—the pickleball calendar continues to expand with major national tournaments on the horizon. The YMCA is stepping onto the national stage with its first-ever YMCA National Pickleball Tournament this November in Naples, FL, while the PPA and Greater Zion announced the 2026 Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert, cementing its place as one of the tour’s premier global events. Meanwhile, padel sees a bold refresh with the Los Angeles Beat unveiling its rebrand at the PPL City Cup Finals, and the tennis world advances off-court wellbeing through a new PTPA–Psych Hub partnership focused on mental health. We round out the week with a look ahead to the RacquetXclubs City Series in Atlanta—an essential gathering for club leaders shaping the future of racquet sports

• Big Dill - Pickleball news and tournaments

• The Los Angeles Beat rebrand

• Match Insights, an AI-driven analytics solution, to debut at Billie Jean King Cup

• Industry Meetups

THE BIG DILL

Why Pickleball is the Sport Everyone is Talking About

It’s official: Pickleball fever has swept the nation, and the YMCA is proudly at the center of the craze.

The YMCA has seen an explosion in demand for court space, clinics, and drop-in play, with more Ys now offering pickleball programming. From competitive leagues and family nights to adaptive play and social mixers, Y pickleball is more than just a sport—it’s a movement.

YMCA National Pickleball Tournament Coming This Fall

In celebration of the sport’s growing popularity, the YMCA will host its inaugural YMCA National Pickleball Tournament in Naples, FL, November 7-9 at the USOP National Pickleball Center – bringing together players from across the country for a weekend of spirited competition, community, and camaraderie.  LEARN MORE

Black Desert Resort Reveals Plans for Pickleball Courts and Partnership With Professional Pickleball Association and Greater Zion

Black Desert Resort, Southern Utah’s premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and outdoor adventure, is set to expand its recreational offerings with the debut of 21 state-of-the-art pickleball courts in Spring 2026. The expansion includes a Championship Court with seating for up to 1,000 spectators, with future phases set to add eight more courts. 

In partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Greater Zion, Black Desert will host the Greater Zion Cup in 2026 — a premier tournament that will draw top players and pickleball fans from around the world. As one of only five Cup events on the Carvana PPA Tour, it represents one of the most significant stops on the professional circuit. Cup tournaments award 1,500 ranking points, compared to the 1,000 points typically available at Open events, making strong performances here especially valuable for players looking to climb or secure their position in the world rankings.

Picklebalm Partners with #1 Men’s Singles Pro Pickleball Player Hunter Johnson as Brand Ambassador

Picklebalm announced a partnership with Hunter Johnson, the #1 ranked men’s singles professional pickleball player. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in Picklebalm’s expanding national marketing strategy. As part of this partnership, Johnson will represent Picklebalm both on and off the court, integrating the brand into his recovery routine while connecting with the pickleball community through various touchpoints including tournaments, social media, and player experiences.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Los Angeles Beat Unveils First Phase of Team Rebrand, Partnering with The Working Assembly

 The Los Angeles Beat (Beat), a franchise competing in the Pro Padel League (PPL), announced today the first phase of its rebrand, unveiled during the PPL City Cup Finals in New York City at the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom. The rebrand represents a cornerstone initiative of the team’s new ownership group, which is committed to driving the Beat forward as a flagship franchise and reinforcing the ambition to elevate both the team and the overall league to new heights. To bring this vision to life, the Beat partnered with The Working Assembly (TWA), the award-winning creative agency known for shaping iconic brands across sports, culture, and consumer industries. 

Professional Tennis Players Association and Psych Hub Partner to Elevate Mental Fitness Resources for Tennis Players

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and Psych Hub, the leading platform for evidence-based behavioral health education, announced a partnership to provide professional tennis players and their support teams with world-class mental health and wellness resources. Through this collaboration, the PTPA will offer players and their teams complimentary access to Psych Hub’s customized digital education and tools, designed to address the unique pressures of life on and off the court. The initiative builds on the PTPA’s groundbreaking Mental Fitness Program and further strengthens the organization’s commitment to holistic player well-being.

Valorem Reply, Microsoft and ITF Bring Real-time AI Analytics to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge

Valorem Reply, the Reply Group company specializing in Microsoft technologies and AI-driven, cloud-native solutions, in collaboration with Microsoft and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), has developed Match Insights, an AI-driven real-time analytics application. The solution brings real-time artificial intelligence analytics to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, the world’s premier international women’s team tennis competition.

As one of the few elite tournaments that permits on-court coaching, the Billie Jean King Cup presents unique demands for instant, precision-driven tactical decisions. In this environment, even the smallest variations in serve response time or ball placement can alter the outcome of a match.

INDUSTRY MEETUPS

RacquetXclubs City Series – ATLANTA

RacquetXclubs City Series in partnership with the Directors Club of America to Atlanta on November 9, 2025, at Ansley Golf Club. This one-day gathering is designed specifically for racquet sports professionals, club owners, operators, directors, and managers, with sessions, networking, and tools you can immediately apply.  Here’s a sneak peek at some of the featured sessions and speakers:

•  “Getting Attention in a World of FOMO” with Alex Justiniani (Congressional Country Club), moderated by Shaun Boyce (American Racket Sports Association)

• “Courts in Transition: Embracing Change to Stay Ahead” with Tim Buwick (RSPA) and Patricio Misitrano (Racket Social Club)

• “Connecting the Dots: Leveraging All Racquet Sports for Growth” with Brandon Day (Royal Oaks Country Club)

• Plus sessions on investing in your people, and technology, data & digital tools for club management.

ICYMI

World’s Largest Global Golf Business Event Expands to Feature “Racquet Sports at the PGA Show”