Australian Rankings Watch: Who’s Taking Over 2026?

From rising juniors to battle-tested Masters and a stacked Open division, Australian pickleball is entering a new era.

Queensland continues to dominate across multiple categories, but new challengers are emerging fast. With major ranking events still ahead, no lead is safe.

Open Men: Queensland Setting the Pace

Harrison Brown remains the man to beat in Open Men’s Singles, leading the rankings with 5150 points. The Queenslander continues to separate himself from the pack. But the field behind him is deep. Andrew Horridge and Kyle Stoker remain firmly in contention, while Mitchell Hargreaves, Sahil Dang, and Zachary Grabovic continue to build momentum heading into the second half of the season.

In doubles, Joseph Wild has established himself as one of the most dominant players in Australian pickleball. Ranked No.1 in both Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. George Wall sits close behind, setting up one of the strongest rivalries in the country. If both maintain their current form, we can expect some huge finals throughout 2026.

Mitchell Hargreaves also remains a major contender in both Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Other notable performers across the doubles divisions include Harrison Brown, Zachary Grabovic, Ryan Henry, Lucas Pascoe, Andrew Horridge, and Josh Nipperess.

Open Women: Depth Like Never Before

The women’s game is quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of 2026. Andie Dikosavljevic leads the Open Women’s Singles rankings with 5600 points, but the competition behind her continues to tighten. Sahra Dennehy has delivered strong performances throughout the season, while Kaitlynn Hart, Somer Della-Bona, Danielle Townsend, Bernadette Massih, and Nicola Schoeman continue to push forward. What stands out most is the depth of talent now emerging in Australian women’s pickleball. 

In doubles, Kaitlynn Hart and Danni-Elle Townsend continue to set the benchmark. Townsend, in particular, has been outstanding across all formats, sitting No.1 in Women’s Mixed Doubles while remaining a top contender in singles and doubles. The women’s field continues to grow stronger with every event. Breakout performances are becoming more common, and players such as Sarah Burr, Selina Turulja, Talia Sanders, Bernadette Massih, and Nicola Schoeman are adding even more depth to an already competitive division.

Masters 50+: Experience Still Wins

The 50+ divisions continue to showcase some of the strongest competition in Australian pickleball.

Brad Kluss leads the Men’s Singles rankings, but Ivan Stride and Tek Tea remain close behind in a tightly contested race.  Other strong performers include Kyron Pinter, Shane Wilson, Peter Eyles, and David Marshall. In Men’s Doubles, Martin Clark has built a commanding lead with 7400 points, making him one of the most successful players across any division this year. Christian Andrade, Tony Field, Tek Tea, Daret Gooch, Daryl Wyatt, and Andrew Kratzman remain firmly in the mix. In Mixed Doubles, Ivan Stride leads the field with a solid gap over Martin Clark, while Tony Field and Steve Tindall continue to apply pressure. Tek Tea, Gary Thoroughgood, Christian Andrade, Jeremy Pearson, and Shayne Nijssen-Smith are also keeping the division highly competitive.

On the women’s side, Rosa Morris and Ange Green are locked in a close battle at the top of the Singles rankings. Mandy Corbett and Terrie Robson continue to close the gap, while Miki Masui, Anita Smith, Danielle Fisher, and Simone Kessell Jordan remain strong contenders. In Women’s Doubles, Anna-Lise Bolton has created an early lead with 5400 points, but the chase pack is closing quickly. Naomi Amakawa, Rosa Morris, Mandy Corbett, and Terrie Robson are all within striking distance, making this one of the tightest races in the Masters division. The Women’s Mixed Doubles category is equally competitive. Naomi Amakawa and Mandy Corbett currently lead the way, but Terrie Robson, Angela Bertuleit, Rosa Morris, Sharon Tindall-Ford, Ange Green, and Anna-Lise Bolton continue to keep the pressure on.

Juniors: The Next Generation Arrives

The future of Australian pickleball looks incredibly bright.

Lachy Donnelly leads the Junior Boys Singles rankings and continues to establish himself as one of the country’s top emerging players. Oliver Novic, Mitch Rodgers, and Clement Charbonneau are all gaining momentum, while Luther Ferris has become one of the standout doubles players in the junior ranks.

On the girl’s side, Angelene McLean has emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2026, leading the rankings across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The Heather-Pereira sisters continue to impress, while Fallyn Kelly and Aurora Little are rapidly rising through the ranks. Most exciting of all, many of these juniors are no longer just competing against each other, they are beginning to challenge established adult players.

The Bigger Picture

Australian pickleball is evolving rapidly. Participation continues to grow nationwide, while pathways through National tournaments, MLP and NPL are helping elevate the standard of competition across the country.

With stronger depth, rising young talent, and increasing competition at every level, 2026 is shaping up as a breakout year for Australian pickleball.

The stars are rising.

The rivalries are building.

And the rankings race is only getting started.