This summer, the 1. Vienna Pickleball League brought together players of all levels for three fantastic evenings of competition and camaraderie. Hosted at the Vienna Sporthotel and supported by Gamma, the league offered something unique to Vienna’s pickleball scene: competitive weeknight play with a strong emphasis on the social aspects that make pickleball so special.
The league unfolded across three summer dates – June 10, June 24, and September 2 – with each evening featuring fresh matchups and new partnerships.
Mixing It Up with Team Play
One of the most distinctive features of the league was the team format. Each team consisted of three players with rotating lineup requirements:
- June 10: Two men and one woman
- June 24: Two women and one man
- September 2: Any gender combination
In each head-to-head match, every player competed in two doubles games using rally scoring. Choosing lineups added an extra layer of strategy, while rally scoring kept every game fast-paced and exciting.
Another innovation was the DUPR cap of 11, which encouraged variety in team composition. Instead of defaulting to familiar pairings, players were matched across different ages, genders, and skill levels. This not only balanced the competition but also created a refreshing sense of variety on the courts.
The DUPR element also helped newer players begin their ratings journey. DUPR is a big part of the international pickleball landscape – and having a rating makes it easier to connect with similarly skilled players, both in Austria and abroad. As the Pickleball Federation Austria (PFA) aims to align with international standards, supporting DUPR is an important step forward.
Gamma Chuck Premium balls and Gamma Mobile nets were used, making the games possible at a high level.
Results
Session 1 – June 10
🥇 Pickle Power (Emily Humes, Abbas Nabizada, Philipp Wallander)
🥈 CuteCumbers (Tobi Ofner, Jasmin Primus, Sali Steiner)
🥉 Racketista (Helmut Hübsch, Soe Ching Ng, Peter Robič)
Session 2 – June 24
🥇 GurkerlGang (Katharina Alten, Andreas Mitischka, Jasmin Primus)
🥈 Mighty Dinkers (Mirja Kokkonen, Martin Kova, Maureen Tan)
🥉 Doowahdillydillies (Toby Peterson, Sven Szabo, Barbara Szabo)
Session 3 – September 2
🥇 Bouble Trouble (Alex Rieck, Laurin Suske, Markus Tscheik)
🥈 Trinity (Kevin Müllner, Alex Prokoshev, Thomas Weis)
🥉 Team 4 Stars (Jasmin Primus, Soe Ching Ng, Stefan Stangl)
More Than Just Matches
Beyond scores and ratings, what stood out most was the atmosphere. The Vienna Pickleball League gave players the chance to grow, build new friendships, and simply enjoy hours of pickleball together. For many, it was a reminder of why they fell in love with the sport in the first place: it’s social, welcoming, and best enjoyed in good company.
Looking Ahead
The energy and positive feedback from this year’s league underline its role in helping pickleball grow across Austria. By offering competitive yet accessible play, weeknight scheduling, and an emphasis on community, the Vienna Pickleball League showcased the very best of the sport.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all the players – and to our partner Gamma – for making this league a success. We’re already looking forward to the next edition of the league!
