April brought significant shifts across both pro and junior divisions, with emerging talent breaking into new tiers and established players continuing their climb. From standout performances on tour to rapid development across the next generation, these risers reflect where the game is heading.

Here are the top DUPR risers of April.

Top Pro Doubles Risers

Kiora Kunimoto

Kunimoto has already seen significant success in singles, as highlighted in our Top Singles Risers for December / January. This progression is not unusual as many tennis players make their biggest leap in singles before translating that success into doubles. Kunimoto is following that exact path.

As part of the next generation of pickleball talent, she claims the title of Top Doubles Riser for April, jumping 22 spots to reach a 5.643 in our Women’s Pro Doubles DUPR Pickleball Rankings. Over the past month, she captured bronze at the PPA Newport Beach Challenger, pushed Fahey/Schneemann to three games, and continues to secure high-level partnerships, including CJ Klinger in mixed doubles.

Seone Mendez

Mendez, a former professional tennis player who reached a career-high ranking of No. 198 on the WTA Tour, has already found significant success in singles, currently sitting at No. 11 in our Women’s Singles Rankings. That success is hardly surprising given her high-level tennis background.

The bigger question has always been whether players like her can adapt to the nuances of the doubles game. She’s beginning to answer that. Mendez has broken into the Top 50, landing at No. 47 with a 5.770 in the Women’s Pro Doubles DUPR Pickleball Rankings.

One of the most athletic players in the sport, she continues to build experience and momentum, highlighted by strong wins at the recent US Open in Naples, Florida. We hope to see more of her on tour as it seems like she continues to juggle competing in both pickleball and tennis at a world-class level.

Top Pro Singles Risers

‍Truong Hien

There’s no debate about April’s top singles mover. Truong Hien surged 35 spots to No. 45, breaking into the Top 50 in the Men’s Pro Singles Rankings with a 6.062.

Vietnam continues to produce high-level talent—particularly in singles—and Truong is a clear example. At the recent PPA Asia Hanoi Cup, he notched an impressive win over Federico Staksrud before ultimately falling to fellow Vietnamese standout Nam Ly Hoang, earning silver in Men’s Singles.

Nam Ly Hoang

Another top mover in April alongside Truong Hien, Nam Ly Hoang breaks into the Top 25, rising to No. 20 in the Men’s Pro Singles DUPR Pickleball Rankings with a 6.267.

Nam carried strong momentum out of 2025, where he captured six medals, finishing with gold at the PPA Asia Hangzhou Open in December. He has picked up right where he left off to start the 2026 PPA Asia swing, claiming gold at the PPA Asia Hanoi Cup with an impressive run that included wins over Christian Alshon, Dylan Frazier, and Truong Hien.

Top Junior Doubles Riser 

Andi Godwin

Godwin claims the Top Riser spot in our Girls Junior Doubles Rankings for the month of April, jumping 24 spots to break into the Top 50 at No. 37.

A regular on the PPA Tour—competing in both Challenger events and Florida-based PPA qualifiers—she has been steadily gaining experience against top competition, though she has yet to break through with a signature win. We’ll continue to monitor her progress as she emerges as part of the next wave of junior talent entering the sport.

Top Junior Singles Riser 

MJ Greiner

Greiner claims the Top Riser spot for April in the Boys Junior Singles Rankings, jumping 30 spots to reach a 4.723 DUPR.

Training out of the APP Next Gen Academy at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he’s clearly putting in the work. It’s encouraging to see smaller academies developing the next generation of pickleball talent—mirroring the junior tennis pathway, where young players train with the goal of competing at a world-class level.

Greiner recently earned a spot in the main draw of Men’s Singles at the US Open in Naples and has been actively competing across APP Next Gen events, PPA Challengers, and the Junior PPA Tour. With so many opportunities to gain match experience, his continued progression will be one to watch.