Yuta Funemizu Signs with PPA, Makes History as Japan’s First Import to Preeminent Tour
Japan’s former Soft Tennis World Champion Yuta Funemizu has signed an exclusive contract with the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP), making him the first Japanese import to get onboard pickleball’s preeminent leagues.
“I am truly honoured to be the first Japanese player to sign an exclusive contract to play on the PPA Tour,” said Funemizu, who made the fateful switch to pickleball only recently despite being successful in Soft Tennis.
In January 2024, Funemizu left Japan and moved full-time to the U.S. to focus on the growing sport. He competed in 23 tournaments in his first year alone, reaching as high as the Round of 32 in several PPA Tour events. Already, he has a signature victory in mixed doubles over Collin Johns at the PPA Masters.
Funemizu is making waves as a pickleball pro due to a play style that closely resembles that of Christian Alshon and Gabriel Tardio—fast-paced, dynamic, and aggressive.
The precocious Japanese won a silver medal in men’s singles at the Asia Pickleball Games in Taiwan in 2024. In the same year, he bagged two gold medals—one in men’s doubles (Skill Division) and another in mixed doubles (Open Division)—at the PJF Pickleball Championships in Japan. Funemizu’s wins in Asia cemented his status as a name to watch in the pickleball scene while also upping the sport’s profile in his home country of Japan.
“This is just a first step on my new journey,” said Funemizu about his milestone signing. “My next goals will be to become the first Japanese player in Major League Pickleball (MLP) and becoming the first Japanese to win a tournament on the PPA Tour. I also hope my presence on the PPA Tour will help grow the popularity of pickleball in Japan, where the sport is still relatively unknown.”
The Carvana PPA Tour is welcoming the Japanese import with open arms, with Chris Patrick, Deputy Commissioner of the Carvana PPA Tour, describing Funemizu as a “trailblazer.”
“Yuta is an incredible athlete who is already seeing success in his transition to professional pickleball—and we’re excited to welcome him to the PPA Tour,” said Patrick. “The PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball are riding an incredible period of growth, both domestically and internationally. The interest we are seeing from athletes all over the world to compete on the premier pickleball tour is rising just as quickly, if not more so. Yuta will likely prove to be a trailblazer for others from the region to make the leap and achieve success in professional pickleball.”
This emerging pickler from Japan is used to winning, and don’t be surprised if he keeps his winning tradition well into pickleball. If so, it would be great for Japan for sure. It would be greater for pickleball.
