In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont sits down with one of the most influential figures in European pickleball, Gustaf Getarud, to talk about playing, building and thinking the game at a high level.

Gustaf discusses how a corporate background in leadership and recruitment has shaped his approach on court, why process and problem-solving matter so much in pickleball, and how he has stayed competitive against stronger athletes with deeper racket-sport backgrounds.

The conversation also moves into the bigger picture. Together, Chris and Gustaf look at the changing European tournament scene, the risks of oversaturation, the tension between open competition and exclusivity, and what Europe can learn from the tour wars in the United States.

There is also insight into:

• why European players often approach the game differently from Americans
• how Gustaf adapted after training in the US
• the value of drilling for difficult match situations
• why flexibility of style matters more than many coaches admit
• the players and partnerships to watch in Europe right now
• why Gustaf believes Francesca Romani could become Europe’s number one before the end of the year

If you want a podcast that goes beyond surface-level chat and gets into how European pickleball is actually being built, this is one worth listening to.

Listen on Spotify, iTunes and other major podcast platforms, or find more at worldpickleballmagazine.com.

In this week’s World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont and Gordon Watson dig into the biggest talking points from the MB Hanoi Cup and the wider pro game.

The show opens with a light-hearted detour into English Open plans before turning to the real debate: Anna Leigh Waters withdrawing from women’s singles in Hanoi after a packed run of tournaments. Chris and Gordon discuss whether the professional schedule is starting to ask too much of the sport’s biggest names, and whether it was the right look for Waters’ first major international appearance in Vietnam.

They also get into Phuc Huynh’s decision not to play, the wider concerns around PPA Asia exclusivity, and whether some American players are being protected too far into the draw at the expense of local and regional talent.

From there, the conversation moves courtside. Chris and Gordon break down Ly Hoang Nam’s controversial win over Christian Alshon, the disputed line call that followed, and what the result means for Vietnam’s growing place in the pro game. There is also discussion of Hong Kit Wong and Eunggwon Kim’s big doubles win over Tyson McGuffin and Riley Newman, Mitchell Hargreaves’ strong run, the women’s singles picture in Hanoi, and the early shape of the mixed doubles and women’s doubles draws.

The episode then shifts back to the United States, where Chris Haworth’s rise to world No.1 in men’s singles is placed under the microscope. Chris and Gordon also talk about how hard it is becoming to close out matches against the sport’s very best players, what that says about the current level beneath the elite, and whether the PPA’s dominance is helping or hurting the storytelling around the pro game.

This episode covers:

• Anna Leigh Waters withdrawing from singles in Hanoi
• whether the pro schedule is becoming too congested
• Phuc Huynh’s boycott and the PPA Asia contract debate
• Ly Hoang Nam’s win over Christian Alshon
• the line-call controversy in Hanoi
• Hong Kit Wong and Eunggwon Kim’s standout doubles result
• Mitchell Hargreaves’ strong run
• Chris Haworth becoming world No.1
• why top players are becoming harder to close out against

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Bálint Bakó is one of the most interesting players in European pickleball right now, and in this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont sits down with the Hungarian star to explore the journey behind his rise.

From his background in the demanding Hungarian junior tennis system to his rapid emergence as one of Europe’s leading singles players, Bakó opens up on the moments that shaped him, the matches that changed his belief, and the realities of trying to build an international career in pickleball from Europe.

He reflects on his breakthrough in Malmö, the lessons learned from major battles across the continent, the pain of his injury in Rome, and the huge experience of competing in the World Pickleball League in Mumbai. Bakó also discusses what separates the best Asian and American players from Europe’s top names, and why he believes the gap is not talent, but exposure, opportunity, and repetition at the highest level.

This is a conversation about ambition, pressure, funding, growth, and what it really takes to try to break through in the global game.

In this episode, we cover:

• Bálint’s tennis background and how he found pickleball
• Why Malmö became a turning point in his career
• His singles mindset and how he sees his own game
• What he learned from top European rivals
• The injury moment in Rome and how he responded
• Life inside the World Pickleball League in Mumbai
• His biggest win so far against Dang Hoang Nguyen
• Why European players need more exposure to close the gap globally
• His goals for the rest of 2026

If you enjoy the podcast, make sure you follow World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms, and head to worldpickleballmagazine.com for daily global pickleball news, analysis, and interviews.