The Association of Pickleball Players’ investment in international talent has delivered memorable moments across its competitive calendar in 2026. From championship performances in Malaysia and England to breakthrough victories on American soil, the APP’s international pros are deepening the competition, giving fans new athletes to follow and strengthening the organization’s position in global pickleball.

The championship victories and breakthrough performances of Jay Devilliers, Quang Duong, Roos Van Reek, Domenika Turkovic, Nicola Schoeman and Bálint Bakó, among others, demonstrate the APP’s ability to attract elite international talent and turn that investment into compelling competition. Supported by recently-announced multiyear player agreements, this growing roster strengthens the APP’s position as a global sports property, creating a foundation for deeper fan engagement and new sponsorship and media opportunities across international markets.

“The world’s best players have choices, and their decision to build their careers with the APP reflects the strength of what we are creating,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “These athletes are winning titles, raising the level of competition and giving fans around the world a personal connection to our Tour. Investing in international talent strengthens the experience for our players, fans and partners, and gives us tremendous confidence in the APP’s global future.”

Jay Devilliers: French Veteran Returns to the Podium
One of just five men’s pros to earn a Triple Crown on the APP Tour, French star Jay Devilliers made a triumphant return to the APP in September 2026. Devilliers brought another recognizable international name to Championship Sunday in Columbus, where he teamed up with Tanner Tomassi to earn silver in men’s pro doubles. The Frenchman ranks top 10 all-time in several APP Tour categories, including career gold medals, career total medals, and most gold medals in a single season. His return adds an accomplished veteran and international winner to a field where established champions face an increasingly competitive group of challengers.

Quang Duong: Vietnam’s Versatile Standout
Vietnam’s Quang Duong has likewise demonstrated his ability to contend across disciplines and continents. First debuting on the APP Tour in 2023, Duong became revered across the globe for his aggressive play style and infectious energy, and the results came shortly after. In Penang in July, Duong won men’s singles gold against Phoenix He and partnered with India’s Harsh Mehta for the men’s doubles title, adding mixed doubles silver with Amanda Hendry. In Chicago in August, Duong and Patrick Kawka pushed top-seeds Jack Munro and Richard Livornese, Jr. to three games in the men’s doubles final before taking silver. Most recently, Duong continued his podium success in Columbus, earning men’s doubles bronze alongside Aidan Schenk.

Roos Van Reek: Dutch Superstar
Among the APP’s brightest international stars is Roos Van Reek, a former tennis standout at the University of Nevada-Reno who has enjoyed a meteoric rise as the No. 1 ranked pickleball player from the Netherlands. This year, Van Reek has seized her global opportunities into championship success across four countries. Twice this season, Van Reek secured a Triple Crown with three gold medals – once at the Pickleball DJOY event in June in Vietnam, and another at the Leapmotor APP Asia Penang Open in July. Back in the U.S., Van Reek and Vivian Glozman then won a dramatic women’s doubles final in Chicago in August, prevailing 11-9 in the deciding game against Amanda Hendry and Emilia Schmidt. At the Proflex English Open Powered by the APP – the world’s largest-ever indoor pickleball event – Van Reek added women’s doubles gold with Shelby Bates, mixed doubles gold with Munro and women’s singles silver. Van Reek’s star power is undeniable, and her career with the APP is only getting started.

Domenika Turkovic: Croatian Champion
Croatia’s Domenika Turkovic delivered one of the season’s latest breakthrough moments at the APP Columbus Open Presented by The James. After winning women’s singles at the English Open and earning singles silver in Overland Park, Turkovic captured her first career APP Tour gold medal in Columbus, defeating Jessica Evanier 11-8, 11-7. She also partnered with Glauka Carvajal-Lane for women’s doubles silver, finishing a tournament that showcased her ability to challenge for titles in multiple divisions. After earning just two APP Tour medals in 2025, Turkovic has seven thus far in 2026 and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Nicola Schoeman: Australia's Ascending Star
At just 19 years old, Australia’s Nicola Schoeman is DUPR’s World No. 1-ranked junior women’s pro player and has quickly turned opportunity into results. After earning women’s doubles bronze with Selina Turulja in Chicago, she claimed her first career APP Tour gold medal in Detroit alongside Richard Livornese, Jr. The pair defeated top seeds Megan Fudge and Aidan Schenk 12-10, 11-3 in the mixed doubles final. Schoeman also earned women’s doubles bronze with Amanda Hendry in Detroit, demonstrating her ability to earn medals across multiple partnerships.

Bálint Bakó: Hungarian Talent Makes His Mark
Detroit also marked a milestone for Hungary’s Bálint Bakó, who earned men’s singles bronze for his first career APP Tour medal in just his second-ever APP event in the U.S. Bakó came to the APP Tour as the number one pickleball pro from Hungary, and his breakthrough added yet another country to the APP’s podium talent. Bakó is a member of the APP’s Touring Pro Program, which is comprised of both U.S.-based and international players ages 19-24, and provides its roster on-court mentorship and development to accelerate their paths to becoming future top-ranked stars on the APP Tour.

Together, these performances give the APP a compelling foundation for continued international growth. Athletes competing successfully across American events, the APP Asia Tour and Global Pickleball Alliance (GPA) affiliated international tournaments create connections between markets and bring continuity to the season’s storylines. For fans, that means more players to follow and more compelling championship matchups. For partners, it creates opportunities to connect with athletes and communities across the APP’s expanding international network.

That momentum also strengthens the APP’s global sporting identity: a recognizable roster, meaningful competition and stories that carry from one tournament to the next. As international stars continue to reach the podium, they are helping build an APP experience that resonates across borders and supports the organization’s long-term ambitions for the sport.

Schedules, tournament recaps, player news and additional information are available at TheAPP.global and on the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.