Breach of Contract Costs Quang Duong RM235,000 and Key Rankings
Andrew LeeIn one of the most talked-about moves in pro pickleball this year, World #6 Vietnamese-American rising star Quang Duong has been hit with a $50,000 fine (or RM235,000) and a suspension from both the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP).
The United Pickleball Association (UPA) issued the penalty after Quang Duong participated in a non-sanctioned tournament in Vietnam, breaching his contractual obligations.
As a result, Quang Duong is barred from one PPA event, the Select Medical Orange County Cup, and four MLP matches, significantly affecting his team, the Los Angeles Mad Drops.
The Mad Drops will now begin each match with a 0-1 deficit, relying on an on-site substitute, while Duong himself will miss out on 1,500 potential ranking points, jeopardizing his top-10 status (currently ranked #6 in singles).
Image via Instagram
This isn’t Quang Duong’s first run-in with tour rules. Earlier this year, he received a cease and desist order from paddle sponsor Selkirk for using a competitor’s paddle during a match, a move that raised eyebrows across the pro circuit.
The $50,000 fine is the most publicized disciplinary action in pickleball’s young history, sending a strong message to rising stars and sponsors alike: player agreements matter, and violating them comes at a cost, not just financially, but reputationally.
As of now, Quang Duong has not issued any public statement in response to the suspension or the fine.
He has recently visited frequently to Asia and also participated in Panas Cup in April 2025.
