The world’s leading pickleball ratings platform backs the annual meeting place for racquet sports, and the two companies launch the DUPR Awards, with the first winners revealed April 10, 2027, in Fort Lauderdale.

Key Highlights:

• DUPR joins the RacquetX ownership group as a strategic investor.
• DUPR and RacquetX launch the DUPR Awards, presented every year at RacquetX.
• Anyone can nominate from December 1. Public voting runs February 15 to March 15, 2027.

Fort Lauderdale, FL - November 5 — DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the world’s leading pickleball ratings platform, today announced an investment in RacquetX, the annual festival and business event for all racquet sports. With the investment, DUPR joins the RacquetX ownership group as a strategic investor.

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DUPR is investing because it believes RacquetX is where the racquet sports industry should meet every year. Players, coaches, club operators, organizers and brands already meet there, on court and on the exhibition floor. As an owner, DUPR brings its global network of players, clubs and coaches to help that gathering grow.

The first thing the two companies are building together is the DUPR Awards, an annual program recognizing the people and places behind pickleball at every level, not only the pros. The first DUPR Awards will be presented Saturday night, April 10, 2027, at RacquetX 2027, and every year at RacquetX after that.

The DUPR Awards will celebrate the best of pickleball, from pro and amateur players to coaches, clubs and events, plus the technology and media partners growing the game.
How it works:

• Nominations: Opening soon. Anyone can nominate an organization or individual. Nominees do not need to be DUPR partners.
• Finalists: An independent Awards Panel of players, coaches, club operators, organizers, media and industry leaders selects the finalists.
• Public voting: One vote per verified DUPR account per category.
• Winners: 50% public vote, 50% Awards Panel. Fan Favorite is decided 100% by public vote. 
• Integrity: Results are reviewed independently and sealed until the show. Sponsors can present a category but have no say in finalists or winners.

For a coach, club or local tournament, a nomination puts a year of work in front of the whole industry. Most Improved Player rewards verified progress at any level. And fans get a real vote: half the result in most categories, and all of it for Fan Favorite.

“RacquetX is where our industry should meet every year, and we want to help build it as a co-owner,” said Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR. “The DUPR Awards are the first thing we’re building together. Anyone can nominate, fans help pick the winners and every result is reviewed independently. We want this to be the Oscars of pickleball: the award a coach puts in their bio, a facility puts on its wall and a player remembers for life.”

For RacquetX, the investment adds an owner with reach into the clubs and players who drive the sport: “RacquetX was built to bring every part of racquet sports together in one place,” said Robyn Duda, CEO of RacquetX. “Having DUPR join our ownership group is a long-term commitment to this event and this community. The DUPR Awards give players, coaches and clubs one more reason to come to Fort Lauderdale in April, and a night on our stage that belongs to everyone who grows the game.”

RacquetX 2027 runs April 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, with nine indoor courts and an exhibition floor. Tickets and exhibitor information are at theracquetx.com.

Together, DUPR and RacquetX will give pickleball one night every year to recognize the people building the sport.‍

About DUPR

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), USA Pickleball (USAP), United Pickleball Association (UPA), Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), Major League Pickleball (MLP), Pickleball.com, Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.

About RacquetX

RacquetX is a festival and celebration of all racquet sports, uniting the community, the industry and enthusiasts from around the world. Founded in 2023, RacquetX brings together players, fans, brands and the business of racquet sports. The 2027 edition runs April 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with nine indoor courts, an exhibition floor and programming for players, fans and industry. RacquetX also hosts the RacquetX City Series, with stops including Dallas and Phoenix. DUPR joined the RacquetX ownership group as a strategic investor in 2026. Learn more at theracquetx.com.