Quang Duong

Quang Duong, nicknamed "Avatar," burst onto the pickleball scene as one of the most electrifying young talents from Asia. Born in Vietnam, Duong built his athletic foundation in tennis, winning the 16U Orange Bowl and the U.S. Open Paddle Tennis in Venice Beach before picking up pickleball as what he initially called a "side project." That side project turned serious fast when he and partner Christian Alshon pulled off one of the sport's biggest upsets, defeating Ben Johns and Collin Johns in three sets.

Duong's father serves as his coach, grading performances on mental toughness and skill rather than results. The lefty-righty duo of Quang and his younger brother training together in Manhattan Beach is the kind of wholesome pickleball content the sport needs. His career has included finals at APP Newport Beach and strong runs in PPA Tour events, establishing him as Asia's top-ranked player. However, Duong's trajectory hit a significant bump when he received a notable suspension from the UPA, leaving fans wondering what could have been for one of pickleball's most talented young players.