Quang Duong Dropped from PPA and UPA: What Really Happened?

Quang Duong’s contract with both the PPA and UPA has officially been terminated due to repeated violations of exclusivity agreements. The decision, announced July 12, 2025, marks a dramatic turning point for one of pickleball’s brightest rising stars, and raises some serious questions about the future of professional pickleball contracts.

Welcome to 11 PICKLES, your home for the boldest takes in pickleball. We don’t just report on the sport—we live and breathe it. If you’re just catching up on this story, don’t worry. We’ve broken down everything you need to know below, from fines and father drama to what this means for the future of the sport.

(And if you’re new here, check out our piece on Quang Duong and his Selkirk split.)

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The Termination: What the UPA and PPA Said

The official word came straight from the UPA: Duong’s repeated breaches of his exclusivity contract—including playing in unsanctioned international tournaments—left the organization no choice.

They claim there were:

• Numerous warnings
• A $50,000 fine in May 2025
• A suspension from one PPA Tour and four MLP matches
• Continued misrepresentation of facts

In short? The PPA and UPA are done playing nice.

Their statement read:

“Your actions represent willful and material breaches of the Agreement… While unfortunate, your repeated disregard for your contractual and professional obligations leaves the PPA no choice.”

Oof.

Let’s Back Up: Who is Quang Duong?

If you’ve been following pro pickleball, you already know the name. But just in case, here’s a quick refresher:

• Born: July 7, 2006
• From: Torrance, CA
• Nickname: “Avatar”
• Current Ranking: #6 on PPA Tour, #1 in Asia
• Major Wins: PPA gold medal, multiple top-player upsets
• Team: LA Mad Drops, Major League Pickleball
• Claim to Fame: Beat Ben Johns and made a splash in Vietnam’s pickleball boom

A former tennis prodigy and junior ITF standout, Duong made his PPA debut at the 2023 Atlanta Open and has been on a tear ever since.

But his star power didn’t just come from his skill, it came from his story, his style, and his marketability in Asia.

What Got Him in Trouble: The Violations

Here’s the rundown of what led to the final contract termination:

• May 2025: Duong plays in an unsanctioned Vietnam event
• Receives: $50,000 fine and 5-event suspension
• July 9-13, 2025: Skips MLP’s Grand Rapids tourney for a promo appearance at Vinpearl Resort in Vietnam
• July 12, 2025: Official termination by UPA and PPA

The biggest problem? These weren’t isolated slip-ups. The UPA claims this was part of a pattern of behavior, including:

• Ignoring warnings
• Misrepresenting his activities
• Publicly pushing non-sanctioned events

It’s not just the participation, it’s how the leagues interpreted his priorities, especially as he promoted events in Vietnam, his home country.

Why It Matters: Bigger Than Just Quang

This isn’t just about one player getting booted. This is about:

The Power of Contracts

PPA and UPA have locked players into exclusive deals. This shows they’re willing to enforce those deals, publicly and harshly.

Asia’s Explosive Growth

Vietnam is the second-biggest pickleball market after the U.S. Duong is the face of that market. Losing him means losing serious expansion potential.

Financial Stakes

Duong’s reported deal with Vietnamese brand Sypik was worth $800,000/year, compared to the average PPA earnings of around $200,000. Asia pays, and promotes, better for him.

The Precedent

If you’re a player thinking about moonlighting outside UPA’s borders, this was your warning shot.

What People Are Saying

Here’s a snapshot of the buzz making waves across the pickleball community:

Zane Navratil, one of the sport’s most vocal pros, told fans: “You can’t have players just doing whatever they want. It delegitimizes the tour.”

On Reddit, reactions were deeply split. Some argued Duong made a smart financial decision by tapping into the booming Vietnam market. Others felt he burned critical bridges too early in his career.

Critics of the UPA labeled the organization “money hungry,” accusing it of "stifling innovation" and holding the sport back with outdated exclusivity clauses.

Supporters of Duong fired back: “He’s a king in Asia. He doesn’t need to wait for North America to catch up.” Others noted that his international influence might be more valuable long-term than a domestic tour schedule.

If you’ve got visuals of Reddit threads, social media reactions, or screenshots of Zane’s quote, this is the perfect place to drop them in. Let the receipts speak.

What Happens Now?

Here’s what’s likely coming next, and why this isn't just a Quang Duong story. It’s a pivot point for how pro pickleball is played, paid, and perceived.

For Quang Duong

• Expect a full pivot to Asia, where he's already a superstar. His fanbase in Vietnam is massive, and he's reportedly pulling in more than triple what most PPA players earn.
• A jump to the APP Tour or independent international circuits is highly likely. These tours have looser restrictions and would give him the freedom to keep building his brand.
• Brand-building will go into overdrive: think business deals, media appearances, and exhibition matches in Asia that make him the face of pickleball's global future.

For UPA and PPA

• They've drawn a line, but was it too harsh? Kicking out a player with global market potential may come back to haunt them.
• Their rigid exclusivity model is under scrutiny. If more players see opportunity beyond U.S. borders, this move could look shortsighted.
• The leagues may need to adapt or risk becoming irrelevant in regions outside the U.S. Quang might just be the first domino.

For the Sport

• Other players are paying attention. If you’re a top-20 pro watching Quang rake in cash and headlines overseas, how loyal are you feeling right now?
• We may see a rise in new tours, regional leagues, or international partnerships not tethered to UPA exclusivity.
• The U.S. could lose its grip on pickleball’s growth narrative. What started as an American backyard sport is now becoming global, and this case proves it.

What We Think at 11 PICKLES

At 11 PICKLES, we don’t just cover the highlights, we look at the undercurrents. And this story? It’s a battle of values.

• Money vs. Tradition
• Global expansion vs. U.S. control
• Player freedom vs. league control

Quang’s story is complicated. But one thing’s clear: the pickleball world is changing fast. And we’re here for every shot, spin, and serve.

Want more hot takes like this? Check out our features on Ben Johns drives it at Quang Duong's head, and more in our Players section.

And yeah, don’t forget to peep our merch, because if you’re going to stir the pickle pot, you might as well look good doing it.

Ready to drive the ball hard like Ben Johns? Buy his paddle here.