Yuta Funemizu Becomes First Japanese Player: Yuta Funemizu has made history by becoming the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract with the United Pickleball Association (UPA), securing a place on the Carvana PPA Tour and eligibility for Major League Pickleball (MLP). This milestone marks a major step for Japan in the growing world of professional pickleball.
“I am truly honored to be the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract to play on the PPA Tour.” – (Funemizu)
A Historic First for Japanese Pickleball
Funemizu, a former Soft Tennis World Champion, is transitioning from a highly successful career in soft tennis to compete in professional pickleball. His contract with the PPA Tour and MLP creates a new opportunity for Japanese athletes to enter the sport at the highest level.
“However, this is just a first step on my new journey. My next goals will be to become the first Japanese player in Major League Pickleball (MLP) and becoming the first Japanese to win a tournament on the PPA tour. I also hope my presence on the PPA tour will help grow the popularity of pickleball in Japan, where the sport is still relatively unknown.” – (Funemizu)
Pickleball’s Growing Global Impact
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States and is expanding rapidly worldwide.
In 2024, the 130 professional players on the PPA Tour and MLP earned over $30 million in prize money, with more than 300,000 fans attending events and millions more watching via broadcasts.
Deputy Commissioner of the Carvana PPA Tour, Chris Patrick, highlighted the sport’s rising international appeal:
“Yuta is an incredible athlete who is already seeing success in his transition to professional pickleball – and we’re excited to welcome him to the PPA Tour. The PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball are riding an incredible period of growth, both domestically and internationally. The interest we are seeing from athletes all over the world to compete on the premier pickleball tour is rising just as quickly, if not more so. Yuta will likely prove to be a trailblazer for others from the region to make the leap and achieve success in professional pickleball.” – (Chris Patrick)
A Rapid Rise in Pickleball
In January 2024, Funemizu left behind his soft tennis career and moved to the United States to focus on pickleball full-time. Over the course of 23 tournaments, he has steadily developed his skills, making it to the Round of 32 in PPA Tour events.
His biggest moment so far came at the PPA Masters, where he won a mixed doubles match against Collin Johns. Known for his right-side doubles play, Funemizu’s unique volleying style is similar to that of Christian Alshon and Gabriel Tardio.
International Achievements
Funemizu has already achieved success in international pickleball tournaments, earning:
- Silver Medal in Men’s Singles at the Asia Pickleball Games 2024 in Taiwan (October 2024, organized by the Asia Federation of Pickleball)
- Gold Medal in Men’s Doubles (Skill Division) and Mixed Doubles (Open Division) at the PJF Pickleball Championships 2024 in Japan (December 2024, organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation)
His transition to pickleball full-time has gained significant attention from Japanese media, further boosting the sport’s popularity in Japan.
Expanding Pickleball in Asia
In December 2024, Funemizu became the first-ever Japanese brand ambassador for JOOLA, joining an elite group of sponsored players. His efforts to grow pickleball in Japan are supported by Visional, a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed HR Tech company.
With pickleball expanding rapidly in Asia, including Australia, Vietnam, and India, Funemizu’s presence in professional pickleball is expected to increase awareness and participation in Japan.
News in Brief: Yuta Funemizu Becomes First Japanese Player
Soft Tennis World Champion Yuta Funemizu has become the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract with the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, marking a historic step for Japan in professional pickleball. After transitioning from soft tennis, he has already achieved international success and aims to bring more Japanese players into the sport.
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