A new current is emerging in the pro pickleball world. On April 9, 2026, the Carvana PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association) released a trailer for the reality documentary series "Partners" and announced that it would begin streaming fromMay 5, 2026. Comprising six episodes, it's an ambitious work that lays bare not only the pros' fierce battles on court but also broken relationships, business conflicts, and their true selves as people.
Overview of the show — inside the "traveling circus"
"Partners" is a documentary series produced by Shutterstock Studios. It follows the partnerships, rivalries, and clashes of personal emotions that arise as PPA Tour players travel from tournament to tournament.
PPA Tour founder and CEO Connor Pardoe commented on the series, "Pickleball is like a ”traveling circus.” We show what's happening inside it in a way never done before." MLP (Major League Pickleball) commissioner Samin Odhwani is also involved in production, making it a work strongly conscious of fusing sports and entertainment.
Featured players — the world's top players gather
Many of the top players representing the current PPA Tour appear in this series. The notable lineup is as follows.
| Player Name | Category | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Leigh Waters | Women | A top player in the world rankings |
| Anna Bright | Women | Popular for an aggressive playing style |
| Catherine Parenteau | Women | From Canada, with steady technique as a strength |
| Ben Johns | Men | A legend who reigned as world No. 1 for years |
| Zane Navratil | Men | An entertainer with a unique style |
| Federico Staksrud | Men | An up-and-comer from South America |
In addition, accomplished players such as Kate Fahey, Rachel Rohrabacher, Parris Todd, Gabe Tardio, Hayden Patriquin, Christian Alshon, CJ Klinger, Hunter Johnson, and Jaume Martinez Vich appear. It's depicted from multiple angles, from the players' relationships with practice partners and the psychological battles during matches to off-court business decisions.
How to watch — streaming on three platforms
"Partners" can be watched on the following platforms.
- Prime Video (U.S.): for Amazon Prime members
- Carvana PPA Tour YouTube channel: available to watch free
- PickleballTV: a pickleball-specialized video service
At present, the provision of Japanese subtitles has not been confirmed, but since streaming on YouTube is planned, it's a relatively accessible environment for Japanese fans too.
Impact on spreading pickleball — a tailwind for Japan too
The arrival of major documentary content like "Partners" holds great significance for the pickleball world. In spreading a sport, content that conveys not just competition footage but the players' humanity and drama often has a tremendous effect on acquiring new fans. Netflix's tennis work "Break Point" and combat-sports documentaries are typical examples.
In Japan too, pickleball is rapidly gaining recognition.Pickleball One is advancing facility rollout in partnership with major partnersand amid the steady development of the domestic competitive environment, international content like "Partners" is highly likely to further boost Japanese pickleball fans' interest.
Also,The integration and development of the Japan Pickleball Association and related organizationsis progressing, and the sport's organizational foundation is also taking shape. "Partners," which portrays the true faces of the world's top pros, will be a valuable chance for Japanese players and fans to feel the pro world up close.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can "Partners" be watched from Japan?
A. Prime Video (the U.S. version) has regional restrictions and may not currently be viewable on Japan's Amazon Prime. However, since streaming is also planned on the official Carvana PPA Tour YouTube channel, YouTube can be watched from Japan. The provision of Japanese subtitles has not been announced at this time.
Q2. Is this the first pickleball reality show?
A. As a full-fledged reality documentary series produced by the PPA Tour together with Shutterstock Studios, it's a work of particularly notable scale in the industry. Like Netflix's tennis documentaries and F1's "Drive to Survive," it's expected to play a major role in acquiring new fans for the sport.
Q3. Why are Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns getting so much attention?
A. Anna Leigh Waters is a player who has reigned at the top of the world in women's singles and doubles for years, and is also known for reaching the top as a teenager. Ben Johns is a pickleball legend who maintained world No. 1 in the men's division for multiple years. Beyond their competitive achievements, both players' characters and words draw fan attention, and there are high expectations for their dramatic portrayal in "Partners."
"Partners" streams on May 5, 2026. Why not take this chance, Japanese pickleball fans, to peek into the pro world? We'll keep updating the latest informationPickle Timeshere as well.
