Major League Pickleball Australia Day 1: Global Stars Shine at the Queensland Tennis Centre

The Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane played host to the opening round of Major League Pickleball Australia, with players from 13 nations bringing international flair, intensity, and drama to event four of six on the 2025 tour.

Round 1 delivered everything fans hoped for—tight margins, stunning shot-making, and new rivalries already beginning to form. Here’s how the action unfolded.

Breakers Edge Crocs in Nail-Biter

In one of the weekend’s most gripping ties, the Brisbane Breakers held off the Crocs 3–2, thanks to the steady hands of Katie Morris and George Wall, who held onto gender doubles wins and came up big along with Hong Kit Wong in the DreamBreaker. With a final tally of 96–86 in total points, the Breakers claimed early bragging rights, but the Crocs proved they’ll be dangerous as the tour progresses.

Mavericks Power Past Stars

The Mavericks showcased their depth in a commanding 3–2 win over the Stars. Anchored by Nicola Schoeman and Hsiang Wen Huang, the Mavericks split the difference in gender and mixed meaning it all came down to another DreamBreaker. Despite the loss, the Stars’ Robertshawe/ Grewal's impressed with his men’s doubles performance, ensuring their team left with lessons and momentum.

Bondi Surfs Over Smash in Thriller

Perhaps the round’s most entertaining clash came between Bondi and Smash, with every rally cheered on by a vocal crowd. Roos van Reek and Kat Westbury led Bondi to a narrow 3–2 win, edging Smash by just three points (111–108). The margins couldn’t have been finer, and with both teams stacked with talent, this rivalry looks set to heat up through the season.

Rush Stun Vipers with Dominant Mixed Play

The Eastern Rush made a statement with a 3–1 win over the Vipers, built on superb women's doubles execution from Katy Hart and Lauren Mercado. The Rush scored a +14 differential (78–64), leaving the Vipers still searching for answers. Captain Andy Horridge and US Pro Rob Cassidy kept them alive with a solid win in mens, however, with their aggressive playing style, the Rush have marked themselves as early contenders.

Aces Deal Surge a Crushing Defeat

It was a clinical display from the Aces, who swept aside the South East Asia Surge 3–1. Japan’s Kenta Miyoshi and USA's Jason Bock were unstoppable in the men’s and and mixed, helping their side to an emphatic +18 differential (78–60). For the Surge, the learning curve continues, but their international pairing of Ho Tam and Sophia Tran showed flashes of promise in this new combination.

Glory Shine Over Hustle in Showcase Finish

The round wrapped up with a showcase of precision from the Gold Coast Glory, who outlasted the Hustle 3–1. Freddie Powell and Mihae Kwon proved clutch in mixed doubles, sealing the win with calm under pressure. With a +11 differential (85–74), Glory walk away with confidence while the Hustle regroup after coming up short despite strong early momentum.

The Bigger Picture

After Round 1, the leaderboard is already taking shape:

• Breakers, Mavericks, Bondi, Rush, Aces, and Glory each walk away with opening-round victories, stamping their authority early.
• Point differentials suggest the Aces, Rush and Glory were the most dominant sides, but Bondi’s razor-thin win over Smash showed just how fine the margins can be in Major League Pickleball.
• With another day of play with 8 moving into eliminations, every game, point, and rally matters.

As the international stars settle in and team chemistry builds, Round 2 promises even more fireworks. The Queensland Tennis Centre set the tone so come on down and watch in person or tune in online.

‍

Watch Championship and Grandstand Court Matches plus plenty more at our YouTube Channel

‍