Yuta Funamizu, ranked No. 1 in Japan among Japanese pickleball players, has signed a sponsorship deal with the U.S. paddle brand \"Diadem.\" The Dink Pickleball reported it in its 2026 pro paddle contract roundup. The 2026 season is seeing top pros switch sponsors on an unprecedented scale \u2014 led by ALW (Anna Leigh Waters) moving to Franklin \u2014 and with Chinese brand Li-Ning entering the U.S. market as well, the paddle industry's competitive map is being redrawn dramatically.<\/p>\n
Yuta Funamizu is a top player leading Japan's competitive pickleball scene. He switched from tennis to pickleball and has built a track record in tournaments at home and abroad. He also holds one of the highest DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) figures in Japan.<\/p>\n
Diadem is a U.S. brand with a track record in tennis rackets and is accelerating its entry into the pickleball market. Its deal with Funamizu is seen as part of Diadem's Asia market strategy.A Sponsor Move by a Pro Player Following ALW's Switch to Franklin<\/a>As it accelerates across the industry, this is a deal with the Japanese market in mind.<\/p>\nList of Major Paddle Sponsor Moves in 2026<\/h2>\n
| Player<\/th>\n | Former sponsor<\/th>\n | New sponsor<\/th>\n | Points of Note<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Leigh Waters<\/td>\n | Paddletek<\/td>\n | Franklin + Nike<\/td>\n | The biggest deal in the industry's history<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Riley Newman<\/td>\n | ProXR<\/td>\n | Paddletek<\/td>\n | Becoming the face of Paddletek as ALW's successor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zane Navratil<\/td>\n | \u2013<\/td>\n | Paddletek<\/td>\n | A pillar of Paddletek's new lineup<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yuta Funamizu<\/td>\n | \u2013<\/td>\n | Diadem<\/td>\n | Japan's No. 1 ranking \/ Asia strategy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyler Loong<\/td>\n | \u2013<\/td>\n | Vulcan<\/td>\n | Set to make his paddle debut at the PPA Masters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dekel Bar<\/td>\n | JOOLA<\/td>\n | 11Six24<\/td>\n | One of those who left JOOLA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric Oncins<\/td>\n | JOOLA<\/td>\n | Engage<\/td>\n | The JOOLA departures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Haworth<\/td>\n | Babolat<\/td>\n | Luzz<\/td>\n | To an emerging brand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nLi-Ning's U.S. Entry and the Rise of Chinese Brands<\/h2>\nOne of the most notable moves in the 2026 paddle industry is the entry of major Chinese sports brand \"Li-Ning\" into the U.S. pro market. Li-Ning has unveiled two new paddles and is signing deals with pro players. With Li-Ning \u2014 which has an international track record in badminton and tennis \u2014 making a full-scale entry into the pickleball market, existing makers face pressure on both price and quality.<\/p>\n Industry analysts note, \"2026 will be the year the shakeout among paddle makers begins. The entry of major sports brands will force small and midsize makers to differentiate.\"Paddletek Group's Integration of ProXR and Yobow<\/a>is also positioned within this industry-reshuffling trend.<\/p>\n On social media, while pro players say \"more player transfers are proof the market is growing,\" there are also reactions like \"as a fan, it's hard to keep up when your favorite player keeps changing.\" Industry insiders predict, \"2026 is a year the market expands too much, and consolidation will begin next year.\"<\/p>\n Yuta Funamizu's Diadem deal shows that the path to landing a sponsor is opening up for Japanese pickleball players. Diadem may strengthen its product rollout and event sponsorships for the Japanese market going forward.<\/p>\n From a paddle-selection standpoint, the 2026 rush of sponsor moves has created a flow in which each brand is rolling out one \"new model for its flagship player\" after another.11Six24's Power 2 (equipped with HexGrit)<\/a>As more technologically innovative models like this emerge, purchasing options will surely widen.<\/p>\n
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