Pickleball is quickly growing in China, with sales of paddles and equipment reaching an average of USD $1.2 million per month as of July 2025. This surge, reported by CNBC using data from WPIC Marketing + Technologies, marks a six-fold increase compared to last year.
A New Sporting Trend
Jacob Cooke, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WPIC, explained,
“Pickleball’s rise in China reflects a broader shift toward active lifestyles and recreational sports participation.”
He noted that growing interest in racquet sports is also boosting the sport, especially after Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen won Olympic gold in singles last summer. Daniel Zipser, Senior Partner at McKinsey, agreed, saying China is now in
“the very strong acceleration growth momentum [period] for racquet sports more broadly.”
Tournaments Fuel Excitement
The Hong Kong Open 2025, part of the first-ever PPA Tour Asia, was a major success. Patrick Yan, Founder of The Brine Agency, said,
“The entire tournament was maxed out, and with a waitlist.”
He also highlighted the increase in local pickleball courts, showing growing demand for the sport. Yan further explained that business leaders in China see profit potential in building pickleball facilities.
“All these courts have to be built by people running businesses. They’re operating for profit…. People started seeing it could be a huge profit, all these competing businesses, and startups,” (Patrick Yan).
Organised Growth
Unlike many countries, where local groups manage the sport, China’s pickleball development is being guided by the Chinese Tennis Association. According to Yan, this makes the system
“quite systemised in comparison to other countries where it’s local organisations that have to organise and fund everything.”
Schools Join In
Young players are also being introduced to the game. Lu Bing, Deputy Head of the Suzhou Pickleball Association, said schools are converting basketball and other courts into pickleball spaces. At his local sports club, courts can be rented for 60 yuan (USD $8.39) an hour.
A Bright Future
McKinsey’s Daniel Zipser said he is “very confident” about the long-term rise of pickleball equipment sales, adding that Chinese consumers are eager to embrace new activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The last two years the consumer was just waiting for the good old days to be back. People now have realised [that’s] not going to happen. They’ve moved on. They’re no longer sitting there. … Life needs to go on.”(Daniel Zipser)
With growing investments, organised tournaments, and school-level participation, pickleball looks set for long-term success in China.
News in Brief: Pickleball Boom in China 2025
Pickleball is rapidly expanding in China, with equipment sales soaring to $1.2 million per month. Experts point to rising interest in racquet sports, growing investments, and school adoption. With the Chinese Tennis Association leading development, the sport is expected to see strong and lasting growth.