KUALA LUMPUR — Kuala Lumpur is set to cement its status as the epicenter of Asian pickleball this April as the JOOLA Titans Tour 2026 arrives for a two-day elite showcase. Headlined by eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi and the undisputed world number one, Ben Johns, the event will bring together the sport’s most decorated professional athletes for a series of exhibition matches, community activations, and a record-setting vertical spectacle that will transform the city skyline.
Scheduled for 7–8 April 2026, the tour represents a landmark moment for Malaysia, which has emerged as one of the most dynamic markets for the sport globally. The event officially kicks off at Stadium Juara in Mont Kiara on 7 April, where fans will witness a high-stakes roster including Anna Bright, Federico Staksrud, Tyson McGuffin, and Collin Johns. The international lineup will be joined by the next wave of regional talent, featuring leading pros from Australia, Vietnam, and Japan, highlighting the rapid professionalization of the game across the Asia-Pacific corridor.
A Record Setting Vertical Showcase at Merdeka 118
The highlight of the Kuala Lumpur stop will be an unprecedented exhibition match staged at Level 118 of Merdeka 118. In what is being billed as the highest pickleball match ever recorded in Malaysia, Team Agassi will face off against Team Ben Johns in a symbolic “battle at the summit.” This sky-high match serves as a metaphor for the sport’s meteoric rise in the region, where court availability has surged from just 20 dedicated facilities in 2022 to over 250 urban venues by early 2026.
Following the match, the celebration will shift to the city’s exterior. From 8:30 PM onwards, the public is invited to witness a dramatic display of light, drones, and pyrotechnics centered around Merdeka 118, celebrating the integration of world-class sports into the heart of the Malaysian capital. This display marks JOOLA’s commitment to making pickleball a cultural mainstay rather than just a passing trend.
Introducing the JOOLA Pro V Paddle Innovation
The Titans Tour also serves as the official regional launch for JOOLA’s most significant technical advancement to date: the Pro V paddle series. Developed with insights from world number one Ben Johns and tennis icon Andre Agassi, the Pro V series introduces patent-pending KineticFrame technology. This innovation utilizes a re-engineered throat geometry that allows the paddle to flex and recover with a “parallel” motion, rather than the traditional diving-board effect found in standard designs.
This structural shift, inspired by the energy transfer principles found in hockey sticks and golf clubs, provides players with “precise power”—a controlled recoil that enhances spin and stability without sacrificing the explosive pop needed at the professional level. The collection features signature shapes including the Perseus, Scorpeus, and the Agassi-specific elongated design, which features a tapered throat and enlarged sweet spot tailored for players transitioning from a tennis background.
Grassroots Growth and Community Outreach
On 8 April, the tour’s focus shifts from professional spectacle to community development. The international pros will visit eight sponsored JOOLA courts across the Klang Valley to participate in grassroots outreach. Supported by RacketPro, these sessions will offer free coaching workshops to players of all levels, including dedicated clinics for university pickleball clubs.
“Malaysia has proven to be a regional powerhouse with one of the highest growth rates in awareness globally,” said Tom Nguyen, CEO of APAC JOOLA. “Our goal with the Titans Tour is to not only showcase the elite level of play but to provide the local community with the tools and coaching necessary to sustain this momentum. Engaging with campus communities and local clubs ensures that the next generation of Malaysian athletes has a clear pathway into the sport.“
The JOOLA Titans Tour is presented by official distributors including Perfect Sports, Dinkit Pickleball Courts, and Tomaz Pickleball Club, with support from Leapmotor as the official mobility sponsor. Following the Kuala Lumpur leg, the tour will continue its international expansion with a stop in Beijing, China, on 9–10 April.
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Tickets for the Kuala Lumpur event go on sale Friday, 20 March via Ticket2U. Options include the Pro Section at RM185.90, the Super Fan Section at RM218.90, and the Titans VIP Section at RM495, which offers front-row seating and exclusive merchandise. Doors at Stadium Juara will open at 4:00 PM on 7 April, welcoming fans to the premier pickleball event of the year.
