Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam: Pickleball Royalty Headlines Championship Sunday at Kai Tak Arena
Saturday’s semifinals at Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong, China, had a bit of everything: three-game thrillers, a few lopsided affairs, lots of drama, and even more high-level action. When the dust settled at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026, five finals were set for Championship Sunday.
Singles Semis Deliver Contrasting Stories
Nothing summed up the day better than the two Men’s Singles semis, which went in completely opposite directions.
Hunter Johnson had to work for his ticket in the Men’s Singles final. After dropping the opener to Federico Staksrud, 11-3, he turned the match around with 11-8 and 11-5 wins in the next two games. Tama Shimabukuro, meanwhile, made short work of Noe Khlif, rolling to an 11-8, 11-2, shutout in the decider. Johnson and Shumabukuro, champions both, will now battle for the title.
The Women’s Singles semifinals were far less dramatic, though no less decisive. Judit Castillo dispatched Kiora Kunimoto in straight games, 11-8, 11-7. Andie Dikosavljevic was even more dominant, thrashing Sahra Dennehy 11-1, 11-3. Castillo and Dikosavljevic will contest the final on the distaff side.
Doubles Favourites Roll On
In Men’s Doubles, Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio were solid against Shimabukuro and JW Johnson, winning 11-7, 11-6. Their opponents on Sunday will be Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin, who bounced back from Staksrud’s singles loss by dismissing Connor Garnett and Dylan Frazier, 11-9, 11-1.
Over in Women’s Doubles, Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters wasted little time against Sofia Sewing and Catherine Parenteau, winning 11-4, 11-0. They’ll now meet Tyra Hurricane Black and Jorja Johnson, who survived a first-game scare against Rachel Rohrabacher and Parris Todd to win 4-11, 11-9, 11-2.
The Mixed Doubles Picture
Mixed Doubles produced the day’s most lopsided result: Johns and Waters won handily, dominating Ting Chieh Wei and Hunter Johnson, 11-0, 11-1 in a commanding showcase of talent, composure, and shot-making. Johns and Waters, without doubt the most decorated pair in pickleball history, will next face Anna Bright and Patriquin in the gold-medal match after the latter outlasted the Johnson siblings—JW and Jorja—via scores of 11-2, 9-11, 11-9.
Championship Sunday Lineup
- Mixed Doubles: Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs. Anna Bright / Hayden Patriquin
- Men’s Singles: Tama Shimabukuro vs. Hunter Johnson
- Women’s Singles: Judit Castillo vs. Andie Dikosavljevic
- Men’s Doubles: Ben Johns / Gabe Tardio vs. Federico Staksrud / Hayden Patriquin
- Women’s Doubles: Anna Bright / Anna Leigh Waters vs. Tyra “Hurricane” Black / Jorja Johnson
Between the doubles specialists chasing multiple titles and a pair of hotly contested singles finals, Championship Sunday promises a fitting finish to the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026.
Championship Sunday of the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026 kicks off on Championship Court on October 25 starting at no later than 1:00 p.m, Hong Kong time.
