Ryan Ng’s UPA Trailblazers Journey: Singapore’s Ryan Ng, 21, will head to Arizona on May 5 to join the inaugural United Pickleball Association (UPA) Asia Trailblazers Programme. Selected from over 100 applicants across 13 territories, Ng will train, compete, and pursue a professional pickleball career during the three-month stay.
A New Path in Pickleball
Ng, a former tennis player, started playing pickleball three years ago during the pandemic. He will complete his national service on May 3 and fly out two days later to the US with 11 other players from Asia, including China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
They will receive training, mentoring from professionals, and compete in top tournaments, including the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) events. The goal is to grow pickleball into a leading sport in Asia.
A Surprise Opportunity
Ng said he didn’t expect to be selected.
“I never really thought about going pro in pickleball, but it is definitely a dream come true. And I’m excited to play pickleball at that high level. It definitely also means committing to the sport in every way and hopefully, it’s just the start of something bigger.” – (ng)
“It’s a great honour to be the only Singaporean selected for the programme. And to me, it is a source of pride to represent my country on the international level. But I think it also comes with a sense of responsibility. When I’m there in the US playing and competing, I’m not just playing for myself, but also for my country.” – (ng)
A Busy Start Ahead
Ng’s first event will be the Atlanta Slam from May 12 to 18, which is the top-tier event on the PPA calendar. He will face elite players, including world No. 1 Federico Staksrud and top women’s pro Anna Leigh Waters.
Due to national service, Ng could only train two to three times weekly. Now, he must quickly increase his training. “Right out the gate, I am already going to be playing the Atlanta Slam and I think I just have to take it one step at a time,” said Ng, who ranks joint fifth in the Singapore men’s singles standings.
“While I’m there, I’d have to focus on sharpening my game. Consistency has kind of been an issue because I haven’t been able to play as much as I would like. When I’m there, I’m definitely going to be playing a lot, like six days a week.” – (ng)
From Tennis to Pickleball
Ng used to play tennis at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and picked up pickleball after struggling to book tennis courts during the pandemic. He learned the game by watching online videos and quickly grew to love it. He models his play on tennis legends.
“I tend to be called a ‘banger’ in pickleball… someone who hits hard, so maybe (tennis legends) Andy Roddick or Pete Sampras; they hit quite hard.”
Pickleball, once seen as a game for seniors, has grown fast in both the US and Singapore, where about 5,000 people now play. Ng welcomes the trend of retired tennis players, like Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, moving into pickleball.
“It’s great, you know, (pickleball) kind of gives them a second life. Just because you retired in another sport, it doesn’t mean that you can’t play another sport.”
“Even for myself, I stopped and kind of gave up tennis and transitioned to pickleball. So I think there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s a good move and I think if you enjoy the sport, why not go all the way?”
What Comes Next
If Ng performs well, he could earn a two-year UPA Asia pro contract, allowing him to compete in Asia’s PPA and MLP events, starting in July. This would mark a major step toward a full-time pro career in the sport.
“Pickleball is my new-found love and I will make the most out of this programme and strive to be the best that I can,” said Ng, who already holds medals in regional tournaments, including a gold at the 2025 Singapore Pickleball Open mixed doubles and a bronze in men’s singles.
News in Brief: Ryan Ng’s UPA Trailblazers Journey
Singapore’s Ryan Ng, 21, has been selected for the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme. Starting May 5, he’ll train in Arizona and compete in pro pickleball events. Ng, a former tennis player, sees this as a dream chance to go pro and represent Singapore on the world stage.