Rising Asian Talent: Pros to Watch on the Asian Pickleball Pro Scene

With PPA Tour Asia rolling out inaugural stops and the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) expanding across the region, Asian players finally have clear pathways—ranking points, real prize purses, and broadcast courts—to prove they belong next to the global elite. From Japan and China to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, these pros are converting opportunity into results.

Yuta Funemizu (Japan)

A former world-class soft tennis player, Funemizu made history in early 2025 as the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract with the UPA, granting full-time access to the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. With elite hand speed, sharp counters in the transition zone, and tour security that guarantees top-tier reps, he’s poised to become Japan’s first true crossover star.

Credits to: Pickleball.com (https://pickleball.com/players/yuta-funemizu)

Yufei Long (China)

Long delivered a signature moment for the new PPA Tour Asia circuit, saving championship points to claim the inaugural women’s singles title in Malaysia (https://www.pickle.asia/blogs/panas-malaysia-open-2025-pickleball-stars-lead-ppa-tour-asia-kick-off), then added more hardware at Fukuoka and Vietnam to sit atop the region’s rankings.

Credits to: South China Morning Post (https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3318328/citys-top-pickleball-player-jack-wong-aims-triple-crown-hong-kong-open-next-month)

Giang Trinh (Vietnam)

Trinh authored the men’s breakthrough at the same Malaysia stop, ripping through qualifying and then lifting the trophy on Championship Sunday. His court coverage and heavy drives travel well, and the qualifier-to-title arc suggests there’s plenty more ceiling to reach.

Credits to: PPA Tour Asia (https://ppatour-asia.com/marathon-man-trinh-takes-long-route-to-final/)

Ryan Lam (Hong Kong)

A local cult favorite turned regional threat, Lam used a home wildcard at the Hong Kong Open to post a marquee upset and reach the late rounds. His rise mirrors Hong Kong’s pickleball boom: fast hands, first-strike forehand, and fitness that holds up through weekend gauntlets.