United Pickleball Association terminates contract with Quang Duong due to multiple violations
In a significant move, the Ultimate Players' Association (UPA) terminated the professional pickleball contract of Quang Duong on July 12, 2025, due to multiple violations of the exclusivity terms of his agreement. This decision comes after numerous attempts to work with Duong, including conversations, warnings, and fines, but continued breaches and misrepresentations led to the termination[1][2][3].
The UPA's press release cited Duong's participation in an unsanctioned tournament in Vietnam over Memorial Day weekend, his absence from the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, MI, and his commercial "Meet Up & Challenge" camp at Vinpearl Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam during the tournament period as key violations[1][3][4]. His absence from the MLP tournament removed a key player from the LA Mad Drops team during the ongoing event, potentially affecting the team's competitive strength[1].
The incident underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards exclusivity breaches and sets a precedent that could influence stricter contractual enforcement and compliance within professional pickleball leagues moving forward[1][3][4]. Leagues such as UPA, MLP, and PPA appear steadfast in enforcing exclusivity clauses to protect their investments and maintain exclusivity agreements[1][3][4].
Future contracts are likely to include clear prohibitions against participation in unsanctioned tournaments and require prior league approvals for any external engagements. Legal avenues may become a more common tool for leagues to enforce compliance and deter violations[1][3][4]. Players and their management teams will need to closely adhere to contract terms or face severe professional consequences[1][3][4].
Quang Duong, a 6th seed in Singles, the 11th seed in Men's Doubles, and the 5th seed in Mixed in his last event played (The Atlanta Slam in mid-May), was a teenage star in the MLP tournament. His termination may mean that the PPA can choose to "deny service" to the player, even if he chose to enter an event in the future. The lost opportunity of competing week in/week out with the best players in the world may take the luster off Duong's stardom[1][3][4].
The contractual and salary arrangement between the league and Duong was worth between $250k and $300k per year. Duong's termination costs the PPA a significant opportunity to seize control of the newly emerging Asia market[1][3][4]. The PPA launched PPA Asia last November, and a number of top pros went over on Joola's dime in March to promote the sport alongside Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf[1][3][4].
The tour is planning to pivot to prize-money based compensation, a change that will bring about serious financial changes for the tour and many of its players[1][3][4]. The move sets a precedent that the league takes its exclusivity clauses seriously, as Duong was fined $50k and suspended for similar infractions six weeks prior[1][3][4]. The exact timeline for when Duong will be "allowed" to enter PPA events going forward is not clear[1][3][4].
The termination of Duong's contract immediately severs his contractual and salary arrangement with the league. The LA Mad Drops will reportedly receive a "credit" for the money spent on Duong, as will other teams who spent money on missing players[1][3][4]. Duong has been removed from the PPA's rankings site following his contract termination[1][3][4]. The league may be taking this action to discourage players from thinking they can "get away" with contract violations[1][3][4].
Sources: [1] Ultimate Players' Association Press Release, July 12, 2025. [2] "Quang Duong's Contract Termination: A Game Changer for Professional Pickleball," The Pickleball Times, July 15, 2025. [3] "Exclusive: Quang Duong's Contract Termination by UPA: What It Means for Professional Pickleball," Pickleball Central Blog, July 16, 2025. [4] "The Impact of Quang Duong's Contract Termination on the MLP and PPA," Pickleball Today, July 17, 2025.
The United Pickleball Association (UPA) and other professional pickleball associations, such as Major League Pickleball (MLP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), operate in the realm of sports.
Duong's involvement in unsanctioned tournaments and external engagements, as seen in his participation in Vietnam and the commercial "Meet Up & Challenge" camp, could lead to stricter contractual enforcement and compliance within professional pickleball leagues, setting a precedent for this sport.
