Vietnam-born paddle brand Facolos has signed a sponsorship contract through 2027 with world No. 2 in men's singles Gabe Tardio (20, Bolivia). It was announced on January 13, 2026. Armed with its flagship model "EliteX," Facolos aims to enter the U.S. market in 2026. It's a picture of an Asia-born brand pressing into America, the home ground, with a world top-tier player on its roster.
Signing a 20-year-old ranked world No. 2
Tardio is a 20-year-old from Bolivia, ranked world No. 2 in men's singles. In 2025, paired with Ben Johns (world No. 1), he won 9 gold medals on the PPA Tour and also won the Australia Pickleball Open paired with Tyson McGuffin. In mixed doubles too, paired with Jessie Irvine, he won 3 medals (2 silver, 1 bronze), and in singles he has claimed 2 titles. It has put a young player with ample credentials front and center.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Gabe Tardio (20, Bolivia) |
| World ranking | No. 2 in men's singles |
| Contract term | Through 2027 |
| Paddle used | EliteX (the flagship model of the Pro Series) |
| Main 2025 record | 9 PPA golds (with Johns) / Australia Open champion (with McGuffin) |
What's inside the flagship model EliteX
The EliteX is Facolos's Pro Series flagship, and its feature is that while having one of the market's grittiest hitting faces, it maintains UPA-A and USA Pickleball certification. It touts high spin performance and a balance of control and power. Tardio cited the paddle's "performance" and the brand's "strategy over the next few years" as the deciding factors for the contract.
An Asian player, one year in business, present in 13 countries
Facolos is new, about a year in business as of January 2026, but it already operates in 13 countries and has raised its presence mainly in the Asian market. It also serves as the official sponsor of the PPA Tour Asia. An emerging brand that expanded its reach in a short time with Asia as its foothold has set the largest market, the U.S., as its next target.
Entering the U.S. market in 2026
Facolos plans to enter the U.S. market in 2026. Welcoming a world No. 2 player as the face of its flagship model can be called a stepping stone to establish a presence all at once in a new market where brand recognition is thin. The home-ground paddle market is fiercely competitive, and signing a top player is also a standard tactic for entry.
Global competition in the paddle market
The paddle is a core piece of gear where, among competition equipment, how you choose it sways your results, and it's a domain of fierce competition among brands. The movement of Asia-born brands advancing into the U.S. with top players reflects the market's globalization and multipolarization. In Japan too, entries by long-established sports makers come one after another, and choices in gear selection look set to widen further going forward.
Related articles:
andDunlop enters paddles
andJOOLA's paddle patent lawsuit
andThe rise of Vietnamese players
Source:The Kitchen / Gabe Tardio Facolos sponsorship / Pickle Asia / Facolos named PPA Tour paddle partner and signs Gabe Tardio
