World No. 1 PPA Star Ben Johns Confirms Participation in Landmark Malaysia Cup
SPORT
Johns, who has claimed over 156 PPA titles and four Major League Pickleball championships, currently holds the No. 1 ranking in both doubles and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour.
American pickleball legend Ben Johns is set to make his long-awaited international debut at the PPA Tour Asia’s Malaysia Cup this September, marking the first time he’ll compete outside of the United States. With an astounding record of over 156 PPA titles and four Major League Pickleball championships, Johns currently reigns as the No. 1 player in both doubles and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour. He first reached the No. 1 singles ranking in 2020, holding that position until Federico Staksrud took over in 2024.
“Ben Johns has redefined the limits of professional pickleball. Now, he brings his dominance to Asia, where local rising stars and seasoned pros will get their chance to challenge the king,” read a statement published Tuesday on the PPA Tour Asia website.
The announcement continued, “So get ready, fans. Every Ben Johns highlight you’ve watched on loop. Every insane ATP shot you’ve shared. Every backhand roll you’ve tried to imitate—now’s your chance to witness the legend in action, live.”
Though it remains unconfirmed whether Johns will compete only in singles or also participate in doubles and mixed doubles, his regular partners are Gabe Tardio in doubles and Anna Leigh Waters in mixed doubles. With pickleball’s popularity surging across Asia, Johns’ appearance is expected to draw major crowds to the event.
Set to take place in Kuala Lumpur from September 24–28, the Malaysia Cup will be the flagship tournament of PPA Tour Asia—the region’s first-ever PPA Cup and the largest professional pickleball tournament in Asia to date, boasting a $500,000 USD prize pool.
The PPA Tour Asia's debut season, organized by the United Pickleball Association (UPA), kicked off in July with the Kuala Lumpur Open. Upcoming stops include the Hong Kong Open (August 21–24), Fukuoka Open (August 26–31), Vietnam Open (September 4–7), and the China Slam (October 1–5). Earlier this year, the UPA also partnered with Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation to bring PPA Tour events to the Philippines as part of its expansion strategy.