On November 22, 2025, the Pickleball Federation Austria celebrated a milestone: the inaugural Pickleball Nations Cup was held at Racket Revolution in Wiener Neustadt – a showcase event demonstrating what a true European team format or other international team events could look like in the future.

The event was initiated by the presidents Peter Robič (Austria) and Zoltán Bőhm (Hungary), who have been advocating for a strong international team format in Europe for years.

“Zoltán was one of the first to propose a team format for the European Championships – Austria has always supported that. I’m very happy that with this event we were able to show what a true team competition can look like.”
– Peter Robič, President Pickleball Federation Austria

Free use with © Racketista – Das Racket Sports Magazin – All photos in the Facebook album

One Day, Four Nations, One Goal: Team Spirit

The first Pickleball Nations Cup brought together top players from Austria, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary. Slovakia remained unbeaten in all three matchups and crowned themselves the first champions of the event. Austria secured two hard-fought 3:2 victories against Hungary and Czechia to finish in second place, followed by Czechia and Hungary.

Austria’s team captain Ashley Simpson: “It was a great opportunity to keep the team together and to keep everyone motivated for coming international championships.”

Hungary invested in building the next generation: “In this showcase event we wanted to give some of our young players the opportunity to show up on the European stage to get some experience,” said the Hungarian team captain László Miklós.

The line-up was outstanding: European Champion Stefan Urban (AUT), European singles standouts Bakó Bálint (HUN) and Stefan Grubmüller (AUT), as well as Slovak stars Viktória Kanichová and Karina Zustakova – just to name a few – ensured elite international quality.

Austria: ⁠Denise Hübsch, ⁠Jasmin Primus, Ashley Simpson, Stefan Grubmüller, Thomas Knapp, Stefan Urban, Michael Wurdits

Hungary: Ramóna Ambrus- Rácz, Barbara Kovács, Anna Rupf, Bakó Bálint, Bence Török, Ákos Dobos

Czechia: Martin Marušák, Vaclav Nuhlicek, Benjamin Shuster, Diana Nepimachová, ⁠Tereza Kolarova, Tereza Rapantová

Slovakia: Michal Pavolka, Alex Rosa, Viktoria Kanichova, Karina Zustakova

The Format: 5 Matches to 15 – Pure Excitement

Each matchup consists of five events: men’s doubles, women’s doubles, men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles – each played as a single game to 15 (win by 1). Each athlete may participate in a maximum of two matches per encounter. A team consists of at least two and up to four women and men.

This clear and compact format was enthusiastically received by players and officials alike:

“This format was more exciting, it was more like a team event. In this event you can really compare two countries – you win or you lose to another country.”
– Stefan Urban, European Champion Men’s Doubles

“I definitely prefer this format. In this format the team can support each other.”
– Viktória Kanichová, President Slovak Pickleball Association & European Top Player

“I think as a player it’s maybe the best format that I can play. It’s a special feeling – you are playing for your team, for your country.”
– Bakó Bálint, European Top Player

“Nations compete against each other. The team spirit is much better.”
– Zoltán Bőhm, President Pickleball Hungary

Testing Innovation: Reaction Options, Match Courts, Excitement

Several elements were intentionally tested during the showcase event:

• React Line-up (MLP-style): The team winning the coin toss could “react” to the opponent’s line-up and submit their own afterwards. Alternative concepts such as secret simultaneous line-ups or reacting before each individual match were also considered.
• Match Courts: Some matchups were played on one court, others on two courts in parallel. Two courts reduced the overall duration by about one hour (max. 1.5 hours per encounter). However, the teams clearly preferred one court per matchup – optimal atmosphere and maximum support (max. 2.5 hours per encounter).

A Milestone for Europe

The Pickleball Nations Cup has the potential to become a permanent fixture on the European pickleball calendar. Bringing together the best players from several nations in one location created excitement and enthusiasm among all participants.

“Our countries are so close to each other. We can support each other by playing together,” said Viktória Kanichová.

The success of this premiere highlights the promising development of pickleball in the region.

Zoltán Bőhm, President of Pickleball Hungary: “For us in Central Europe it’s a really good event and the beginning of strong cooperation.”

The Future of the European Pickleball Championships

The team format tested at the Pickleball Nations Cup would significantly simplify the organization of European Championships. Instead of numerous events (men’s and women’s doubles, men’s and women’s singles, and mixed doubles), there would be only one team competition.

As in many other sports, the European Championships could alternate annually: Year 1 – Team European Championships, with each nation sending one national team; Year 2 – Individual European Championships in singles, doubles and mixed, with each nation sending two to four teams for each draw. This event could be run like a regular tournament.

“I would prefer having a team event like this every two years, and every other year a player should be able to play for the European Championships in singles, doubles and mixed.”
– Bakó Bálint