On April 1, at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena in Hanoi, Vietnam,MB Hanoi Cup 2026kicked off.PPA Tour As the opening event of the 2026 Asia season, the tournament that pickleball fans worldwide are watching has finally started.
This tournament hasabout 800 players in total, amateur and pro,registered, making it one of the largest ever in both scale and intensity. It became a start that once again makes you feel how far the Asian pickleball scene has rapidly expanded. Heated matches continue day after day through Sunday, April 5.
A star-studded lineup where the world’s top seeds line up
今大会の注目ポイントは、世界ランキング上位選手が大挙参戦していること。混合ダブルスの第1シードにはBen Johns（Ben Johns）が名を連ねる。
The No. 1 seed in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles isAnna Leigh Waters (Anna Leigh Waters）。世界を席巻する彼女の存在は大会の重要な要素となる。
Furthermore, strong players such as Federico Staksrud, Kate Fahey, Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin, Kaitlyn Christian, Tyra Black, Gabe Tardio, and Christian Alshon are also entering. For this many names to gather at one tournament is an exceptional level of depth for an Asian pickleball event.
The venue and the atmosphere of Hanoi
The venue, the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena, is one of the largest indoor facilities in Hanoi. The vast, air-conditioned court space is an ideal setting for an international pickleball tournament. Vietnam’s pickleball population has surged over the past few years, and local players are cheering with real passion.
The local excitement at last year’s PPA Asia Hanoi event was also talked about (reference:past reports on the PPA Asia Hanoi Cup）、今年はさらに規模が拡大。ローカルプレーヤーと世界トップが同じコートでプレーする点は、ピックルボール独有の特徴だ。
The PPA Tour Asia 2026 season gets underway in earnest
The MB Hanoi Cup is positioned as the opening event of the PPA Tour Asia 2026 season. The tour is advancing tournaments across Asia, and in Japan too,the PPA Asia Sansan Tokyo Open 2026drew great attention. As a presence leading the pickleball boom across all of Asia, the moves of the PPA Tour Asia can’t be taken off your eyes.
今大会の結果は、シーズン全体のランキングポイントにも直結する。世界トップ選手たちがアジアの大会に参戦してくれるようになったこと自体、アジア全体のレベルアップの証明だ。
ケイトリン・クリスチャンら注目選手の参戦
今大会でとくに注目される選手のひとりがケイトリン・クリスチャンだ。ベトナムでの大会参戦が話題となっており、現地での認知度の高さを示している。
フェデリコ・スタクスルードもアジア圏での大会経験が豊富な選手のひとり。ベン・ジョンズとのトップ対決は、男子部門最大の見どころのひとつになりそうだ。
The amateur division is also thriving—feeling the breadth of pickleball’s base
約800選手という参加者数のうち、相当数がアマチュアプレーヤーだ。プロと同じ会場・同じ雰囲気の中で試合できる体験は、ピックルボールの特徴のひとつ。テニスやバドミントンとは異なり、アマとプロが同じ大会空間を共有するスタイルが、このスポーツを身近なものにしている。
The local community in Hanoi, Vietnam, is also rapidly expanding, and the number of local participants in this tournament is heard to be at an all-time-high level. The experience of “standing on the same court as the pros” nurtures the next generation of players.
Match schedule and spectating information
The tournament is held day after day at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena from Wednesday, April 1 to Sunday, April 5. The detailed schedule and results are updated in real time on the official PPA Tour Asia website (ppatour-asia.com). Online live streaming is also planned, so even those who can’t go in person are encouraged to check it out.
Also, at the recently concludedALW Franklin Clinic (Ho Chi Minh City),でも、アンナ・リー・ウォーターズのパフォーマンスが注目を集めたばかり。今大会でも複数カテゴリーでの成績に注目が集まっている。
Summary—Asian pickleball evolves another step
MBハノイカップ2026は、アジアのピックルボールシーンが拡大・発展する過程を示す大会だ。約800選手、世界トップシードが揃う規模感、そしてハノイという熱狂的なホスト都市——すべての条件が揃った。
4月5日のフィナーレに向けて、試合結果・ハイライト情報はpickle-times.comでも随時お届けしていく。世界トップのプレーをアジアで生で見られる機会は、まだまだ限定的。現地に足を運べる方はぜひ！
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Where can I buy tickets to watch the MB Hanoi Cup 2026?
A. Purchasing in person is the basic way. Please check the details on the official PPA Tour Asia website (ppatour-asia.com). Whether there are online sales is also announced on the same site.
Q. Which divisions is Ben Johns entering?
A. In this tournament he is scheduled to enter mixed doubles as the No. 1 seed. For his entry in singles and men’s doubles, please check the official draw announcement.
Q. Is there a live stream of the matches?
A. Online streaming is planned on the official PPA Tour Asia channel. The specific platform and streaming schedule are announced on the official social media.
