The Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026 drew more than 2,000 spectators to Kai Tak Arena for its finals, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity across Hong Kong. Beyond the on-court action, the tournament brought together players, fans, families and local businesses, showcasing pickleball’s expanding reach and economic potential.
Key Highlights
- 2,000+ spectators packed Kai Tak Arena for the finals of the HKD $8.58 million tournament, which featured 895 players from 22 countries and regions.
- Cross-generational appeal was on display as young children, teenagers, adults and families watched the world’s top players compete.
- Local businesses gained momentum, with venue operators and paddle manufacturers seeing international tournaments as opportunities to grow Hong Kong’s pickleball industry.
- Star players delivered the titles, with Anna Leigh Waters claiming two gold medals and Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin upsetting the top-ranked men’s doubles pairing.
A City That Showed Up
The atmosphere at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026 finals was closer to a block party than a conventional championship, with loud cheers, pounding music, flashing court lights and the unmistakable sound of paddles striking balls. According to a South China Morning Post report, more than 2,000 spectators filled Kai Tak Arena on Sunday, reflecting how far pickleball has progressed in Hong Kong.
The HKD $8.58 million (USD $1.1 million) tournament featured 895 players aged nine to 71 from 22 countries and regions, competing across professional and amateur divisions. The field also included six of the world's top players.
For Feng Huanhuan, CEO of organiser F-Sports Promotions Limited, bringing the event to Hong Kong for the first time was a significant milestone. He highlighted the quality of competition, the determination shown by local athletes and the enthusiastic crowds as evidence of pickleball's rapid growth and widespread appeal.
Spectators shared that enthusiasm. Vince Chan, 29, attended the finals with 10 friends after watching Thursday's preliminary rounds. He said pickleball offers opportunities to meet new people and is more accessible to beginners than tennis. Chan also observed that participation in Hong Kong continues to grow each year.
Pickleball Attracts Players and Fans of All Ages
The tournament's appeal extended across generations, with families discovering the sport alongside experienced athletes and casual spectators.
Dick Cheung, a former tennis player, brought his five-year-old daughter to watch the competition after a sports injury forced him to step away from high-intensity play. He explained that pickleball allows people of different ages and abilities to enjoy the same court. Inspired by world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, his daughter has already developed ambitions of following in the professional player's footsteps.
Bryan Rennie, a former professional rugby player from South Africa who has lived in Hong Kong for 12 years, was surprised by the size of the crowd. After watching the competition up close, his six-year-old daughter also expressed interest in trying pickleball.
The venue's layout helped create an engaging experience for spectators. Cheung noted that fans could clearly hear the distinctive pop of paddles connecting with the ball, bringing them closer to the action.
Hong Kong's Pickleball Industry Gains Momentum
Beyond attracting spectators, the Hong Kong Slam highlighted the growing commercial ecosystem surrounding the sport. Chan's group included Alex Fung, the founder of an indoor pickleball venue, and Doug Choy, who founded a paddle brand and won silver in amateur mixed doubles.
However, expanding the industry comes with challenges. Fung explained that operating large indoor pickleball facilities in Hong Kong remains difficult because of high venue costs. Despite these obstacles, he believes major international tournaments play an important role in building the sport's presence and supporting businesses across the industry.
With venue operators, equipment manufacturers and competitive players all involved, events of this scale can help strengthen Hong Kong's pickleball ecosystem.
The tournament also generated spending from visitors outside the city. Liu Wei, 49, who runs a pickleball club in Xi'an, travelled to Hong Kong specifically to watch the semifinals and finals. His estimated expenditure on flights and accommodation reached HK$4,000 to HK$5,000, exceeding the HK$1,800 he paid for his ticket. Nevertheless, he considered the trip worthwhile.
Liu was also struck by the composition of the audience. Compared with pickleball events in northern mainland China, where spectators tend to be middle-aged or existing club members, Hong Kong's crowd included young couples, teenagers and families. He viewed this as a sign of the sport's mainstream appeal in the city.
Looking ahead, Liu sees Hong Kong and the wider Greater Bay Area as emerging regional pickleball hubs, behind established markets such as Vietnam. He also believes Hong Kong could eventually attract crowds filling two-thirds or more of a full-scale stadium.
Top Players Deliver on Finals Day
The tournament's sporting action lived up to the atmosphere, with several leading players securing titles across the five medal events. Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright won the Women's Doubles title, while Andie Dikosavljevic claimed Women's Singles gold. Hunter Johnson emerged victorious in Men's Singles.
In Men's Doubles, Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin pulled off a notable upset against world No. 1 Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio. Waters returned to the top of the podium alongside Johns in Mixed Doubles, completing another title-winning performance.
While the champions provided the tournament's competitive highlights, the event's broader impact extended beyond the results. By bringing together international players, enthusiastic spectators, families and businesses, the Hong Kong Slam demonstrated how pickleball can build a stronger local community while creating opportunities for the sport's continued growth.
