Vietnamese-American tennis player Quang Duong has officially reached a long-term agreement to compete with the APP Tour in international pickleball tournaments. This also puts an end to the possibility of rejoining the PPA Tour, after his contract was terminated for breach of terms.
APP confirmed and announced that they have signed multi-year contracts with Quang Duong, along with several other well-known players, but did not disclose the value. This is considered a "comeback" for the player, as he previously competed in the system and won one gold and one silver medal.
The deal is also considered a "blockbuster" of the 2026 season, making him one of the 11 professional athletes on the APP roster.
This news came as a surprise to the Vietnamese pickleball community, as there had been many indications that the 20-year-old player might negotiate and renew his contract with the PPA. However, many believed that financial barriers and strict exclusive terms made it difficult for the two sides to reach an agreement.
However, many argue that this is a step backward, as the APP lacks the appeal and professional quality compared to the PPA. In fact, many players often choose PPA as a springboard for their careers, while Quang Duong is going against the trend.
Conversely, his appearance promises to help APP attract more Vietnamese fans. Besides Quang Duong, PPA also announced 10 other players such as Sofia Sewing, Bobbi Oshiro, Jack Munro, Richard Livornese, Roos Van Reek...
The APP - Association of Pickleball Players - is an organization that operates top-tier professional pickleball tournaments, officially recognized by USA Pickleball, the governing body of the United States.
APP organizes tournaments for both professional and amateur athletes. APP was launched in 2019, the same year as PPA.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/quang-duong-dau-quan-cho-doi-thu-ppa-196260304175609627.htm
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