The Hangzhou Open of the 2025 PPA Asian Professional Pickleball Tour is held at the Linping Sports Center. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The Hangzhou Open of the 2025 PPA Asian Professional Pickleball Tour kicked off in Linping district on Dec 3, marking the first time the world's premier pickleball circuit has been held in East China's Zhejiang province.

The event brings together 151 professional players from 17 countries and regions, signaling a new stage of professionalization and internationalization for the sport in China.

Argentine star Federico Staksrud, known for his formidable defense and full-court coverage, is the main attraction in the men's singles field. For Chinese fans, eyes are on Long Yufei, the country's first professional pickleball champion, who made history with her PPA Challenger title in April and dramatic comeback win at the Malaysia Open.

As the PPA's first stop in the Chinese mainland, the Hangzhou Open carries landmark significance. Alongside elite competition, the event features public experience zones and interactive games to promote the fast-growing sport, known for blending elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and drawing a global participant surge of over 150 percent in five years.

Hosted at the Linping Sports Center — the Hangzhou Asian Games venue — the tournament continues through Dec 6, with the final champions to be crowned on the closing day.

A pickleball athlete players at a match of the Hangzhou Open. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]