Ben Johns replaces Quang Duong to create the "super team" of world pickleball

(Dan Tri) - Ben Johns' arrival at LA Mad Drops (Quang Duong's old team) has shaken up MLP 2025, turning the team into the brightest candidate for the championship this season.

After being banned by the Professional Pickleball Association of America (PPA), Quang Duong left a big void that made LA Mad Drops shaken when he had to say goodbye to the mainstay in both the men's and mixed doubles. The Vietnamese-born player has played alongside Catherine Parenteau in 15 matches this season and won 9 - an impressive achievement.

Quang Duong received a ban from PPA for breach of contract (Photo: PPA Tour).

On July 19, the professional pickleball world was shaken by the news that LA Mad Drops officially announced a "blockbuster" contract with Ben Johns, the world's number one male tennis player.

According to press confirmation, this sensational deal immediately turns LA Mad Drops into the center of the Major League Pickleball (MLP) 2025 season, clearly demonstrating the huge ambition of the Los Angeles-based team in the race for the championship cup.

The signing of Ben Johns, who dominates all three categories (men's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles), is considered a landmark strategic move by LA Mad Drops.

Experts say the appearance of the world's number one tennis player not only raises the level of the Mad Drops squad but also creates a "super squad" capable of challenging all opponents at MLP 2025.

Tactically, Ben Johns can become the "nucleus" to build a new playing style, improve the quality of team coordination and reduce pressure on the remaining players.

Along with that, LA Mad Drops also owns top players such as Catherine Parenteau (one of the best female players in MLP), Hunter Johnson and Jade Kawamoto. Mehvish Safdar and Wesley Burrows are ready to play reserve roles, while Thomas Wilson cannot return due to injury.

World number one tennis player Ben Johns officially joins LA Mad Drops (Photo: Getty).

The combination of famous names in the world of pickleball, the mixed doubles pairs Johns - Parenteau and Johnson - Kawamoto, along with excellent singles players such as Ben Johns, Johnson, Parenteau, makes LA Mad Drops (currently ranked 6th on the rankings) suddenly become the brightest candidate for the championship this season.

Ben Johns is considered a symbol of success in the MLP arena. Although he could not bring home the title for the Carolina Hogs, the 26-year-old player has won a total of 4 titles in this team format, including one crown with the BLQK Bears in 2021, two crowns with the Seattle Pioneers and one with the Chicago Slice in the 2023 season - the period when MLP is organized in a 6-event format, each event has its own champion.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/ben-johns-thay-quang-duong-tao-nen-sieu-doi-hinh-cua-pickleball-the-gioi-20250721143603543.htm