Count Japan in as among the countries with an emerging pickleball scene.
And, this February, it is set to host the Skechers PWR Masters 700 organised by the Pickleball World Rankings (PWR)-and supported by the Japan Pickleball Association JPA. It is slated from the 27th of February until the 2nd of March at the Nissho Highway Arena (formerly Saorina) in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. The tournament will have a total prize purse of USD $25,000.
The conduct of the Skechers PWR Masters 700 will differ slightly from JPA-hosted tournaments in Japan as Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) registration is mandatory and might be needed for verification. Players also need to make sure their ratings align with the category requirements when applying.
The Skechers PWR Masters 700 will feature the Men’s and Women’s Singles on the 27th of February followed by Men’s and Women’s Doubles on the 28th. Mixed Doubles will be played on the 1st of March. The tournament will conclude with Team Battles on the 2nd of March.
Here are some other pertinent details of the tournament:
Categories of the Skechers PWR Masters 700
- Men’s and Women’s Singles: 19+OPEN, 35+, 50+, 60+, Junior (18-)
- Men’s and Women’s Doubles: 19+OPEN, 35+, 50+, 60+, Junior (18-)
- Mixed Doubles: 19+OPEN, 35+, 50+, 60+, Junior (18-)
- Team Battles: DUPR14, DUPR18, DUPR18+
- DUPR14: Total = 14.0 (each player = 4.0)
- DUPR18: Total = 18.0 (each player = 5.0)
- DUPR18+: Total = 18.1
Notes:
Age is determined as of February 27, 2025.
Junior participants must apply with parental consent.
For Team Battles, the total DUPR of the four members (two men and two women) must meet the category requirements.
Entry Fees
- Singles (Junior): ¥4,000
- Singles (General): ¥7,000
- Doubles (Junior): ¥6,000 per pair
- Doubles (General): ¥12,000 per pair
- Team Battles: ¥20,000 per team
(Professional entries require an additional ¥2,000 per event except for Team Battles.)
Match Formats
Singles (19+OPEN, 35+, 50+)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 15 points, with advantage
- Top players from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Singles (60+, Junior 18-)
- Round Robin Only: 15 points, with advantage
Doubles (19+OPEN, 35+)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 11 points, with advantage, best-of-three sets
- Top pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Doubles (35+)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 11 points, with advantage, best-of-three sets
- Top and 2nd place pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Doubles (50+)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 15 points, with advantage
- Top and 2nd place pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Doubles (60+, Junior 18-)
- Round Robin Only: 15 points, with advantage
Mixed Doubles (19+OPEN)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 11 points, with advantage, best-of-three sets
- Top pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Mixed Doubles (35+)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 11 points, with advantage, best-of-three sets
- Top and 2nd place pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Mixed Doubles (50+, 60+, Junior 18-)
- Round Robin: 11 points, no advantage
- Tournament: 15 points, no advantage
- Finals/3rd Place Matches: 15 points, with advantage
- Top and 2nd place pairs from the round robin advance to the tournament stage.
Team Battles
- Teams consist of 4 players (2 men, 2 women).
- Matches include Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.
- Each match: 15 points, with advantage.
- In Mixed Doubles, players switch at the end change.
- Medal Matches: If the score is 2-0, the match ends early. All matches are tournament-style with consolation rounds.
