Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns
(Hong Kong) - Organised by F-Sports Promotions Limited, title-sponsored by Hang Seng Bank, and supported by the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, the “PPA Asia 1500, Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026” (the “Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam”) staged its thrilling final matches today at Kai Tak Arena. The event drew over 2,000 spectators throughout the day to witness the triumphant conclusion of Asia's premier pickleball tournament.
Prior to the official start of the matches, the organizer arranged a series of sensational pre-match performances featuring LIT Enterprises artists Jolie Chan, Thor Escobal, and the girl group SHEro, kicking off Finals Day in high spirits.
Anna Bright, Anna Leigh Waters
In the Women's Doubles Final featuring the world's top four players, world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters teamed up with world No. 2 Anna Bright to take on world No. 3 Tyra Hurricane Black and world No. 4 Jorja Johnson. Dominating the court with an aggressive offense and controlling the tempo throughout, Waters and Bright claimed the championship title in straight games, 11–6, 11–4.
Andie Dikosavljevic
The Women's Singles Final followed immediately after, with Australia's Andie Dikosavljevic demonstrating phenomenal form against Spain's Judit Castillo. Delivering a series of precise and unrelenting shots, Dikosavljevic cruised to a convincing straight-game victory, 11–1, 11–5.
Federico Staksrud, Hayden Patriquin
The Men's Doubles Final delivered a high-stakes showdown between the world No. 1 and No. 2 pairing of Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio, and the world No. 3 and No. 5 duo of Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud. Despite having won only once in their previous six encounters against Johns and Tardio, Patriquin and Staksrud found their rhythm early to capture the opening game 11–6. The second game turned into a tightly contested battle, with both sides executing breathtaking rescues that drew thunderous applause from the crowd. Tied at 5–5, Patriquin and Staksrud broke the deadlock to seal the second game 11–8, erupting in passionate celebration after upsetting their formidable rivals.
Hunter Johnson
In the Men's Singles Final, Hunter Johnson and Tama Shimabukuro faced off in an all-American clash. Johnson struck first to take the opening game 11–4, but Shimabukuro mounted a fierce comeback in the second game, surging ahead with an 8–0 run to claim it 11–6. The deciding game saw a grueling tug-of-war before Johnson regained control of the tempo to win 11–7 and capture the Men's Singles title.
The Mixed Doubles Final served as the grand finale, featuring the dynamic powerhouse duo of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns taking on Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin. Demonstrating flawless chemistry, the world No. 1 pair opened with a series of powerful smashes to claim the first game 11–4. Maintaining their relentless momentum in the second game, they dominated 11–3 to secure the championship as heavy favourites.
Anna Leigh Waters: “It means so much to me! After touring Asia and visiting different countries over the past few weeks, finishing here today with two gold medals is just pretty cool. I also want to say Ben played absolutely insane all week. I love you, Hong Kong!”
Ben Johns: “Anna's play was phenomenal today, I can always trust her out there. Even if one of us isn't playing our best, we stay positive and fight back. Thank you, Hong Kong!”
Ms. Feng Huanhuan, CEO, F-Sports Promotions Limited: "We are deeply honored to bring this spectacular event to Hong Kong for the very first time. Over the past week, we witnessed world-class players showcasing their exceptional skill, Hong Kong athletes putting up outstanding performances with fierce determination, and countless fans filling the venue with relentless energy and cheers. This truly highlights the rapid growth and overwhelming appeal of pickleball. Looking ahead, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with all sectors of society to elevate Hong Kong’s pickleball development to even greater heights."
As the blockbuster finale to a landmark year for professional pickleball, the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam is poised to be the largest professional tournament of its kind ever staged in Asia. The world’s elite players competed for a staggering prize purse of up to US$1.1 million (up to approx. HK$8.58 million) – the highest in Asian professional pickleball history – along with 1,500 ranking points. Bringing together 895 players aged 9 to 71 from 22 countries and regions—including all top six men’s and women’s world-ranked players—the tournament highlights its world-class prestige as it writes a new chapter in the development of pickleball in Hong Kong.
Find out more on https://www.ppatour-asia.com/tournament/2026/hong-kong-slam/
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