Robert McManus came to Kota Kinabalu in May on vacation and left with a doubles partner. Five months later, the retiree from Tennessee flew back to Sabah, Malaysia, to play the Borneo International Pickleball Open 2026 with that partner, local player Nick Chai.

The trip also gave Robert a clear view of how players in a fast-growing scene get rated. Here’s his story, what he saw at the Borneo Open, and why DUPR rated tournaments make a real difference for players who want a rating that matches their game.

A partnership that started on a court in Kota Kinabalu

Robert and his wife, Mindi, spent part of this year traveling through Southeast Asia, with stops in the Philippines and Vietnam. On their first visit to Sabah in May, Robert played at the APT Pickleball Court in Likas and met Nick.

Before Robert left, Nick asked if he’d come back to play again. When Robert found the Borneo Open listed on the Reclub app, he had his answer. The pair entered the Men’s Doubles Intermediate Division together.

“It’s a passion, I love it,” Robert told the Daily Express. He has played for almost three years and has competed in tournaments in the US, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, England, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

500 players and a pickleball scene on the rise

The inaugural Borneo Open drew more than 500 registered players to The Good Club in Tanjung Aru, home to the largest pickleball court building in the state. Kelab Rekreasi Pickleball Borneo Sabah and Megas Mind Creative Development co-organized the event, and the Sabah Pickleball Association sanctioned it. 

Robert was the only American in the draw, and the turnout surprised him.

“200 is already a large number. 300 is like a regional level competition but you have 500. Wow, such a good turnout,” he said.

He counts The Good Club, APT and Infinity Sports Arena in Kolombong among a growing list of dedicated venues around Kota Kinabalu. “It’s booming,” he said.

Why DUPR rated tournaments matter to local players

About two weeks after the Borneo Open, Robert learned the organizers had submitted the tournament’s results to DUPR.

“That’s actually great news. It’s a very good thing that the matches were submitted,” he said.

He cared because of how ratings work. Your DUPR rating is calculated from match results, and club and tournament results carry more weight than self-posted rec games because they’re verified. When a tournament director submits results, every match you play feeds your rating.

When results never get submitted, those matches never reach your profile. Robert noticed some local events used DUPR ratings to place players in brackets, then didn’t send results afterward. Players competed all weekend, and their ratings stayed exactly where they were.

What happens to ratings when results aren’t recorded

Robert pointed to three effects he saw in Kota Kinabalu:

• Players stay NR. New players can’t earn a first DUPR rating without rated matches to play in.
• Reliability stays low. Players who already have a rating build less match history behind it, which keeps their Reliability Score low.
• Ratings fall behind skill. He played against people whose strategy and shot-making were clearly ahead of their numbers.

“Many players do not match their recorded DUPR ratings simply because they have not had the opportunity to compete in tournaments that officially submit their results to the system,” he said.

He framed it as an outsider’s view. “I am not trying to be critical or complain, but simply offering an objective observation,” he said.

How to make sure your tournament matches count

Robert’s approach works in Sabah, Tennessee or anywhere else you play.

1. Check the listing before you register. Events that send results to DUPR usually say so in the description or fact sheet.
2. Ask the tournament director. Directors submit results after the event, and Robert said that typically happens the same day or within 72 hours. 
3. Check your match history afterward. If your matches aren’t on your profile, follow up with the organizer.

More than a rating

For Robert, the trip was about people as much as play. He and Mindi also visited Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Labuan and the Tip of Borneo in Kudat, with plenty of laksa along the way.

“Obviously, it’s the gorgeous sunset... but more than that, it’s the people, very warm and welcoming. The community, mostly the pickleball community, is amazing here,” he said.

Organizing chairperson Datin Elaine Fong Yee Ling hopes he’ll bring more American players with him next time.

Every match you play in a DUPR rated tournament adds to a clearer picture of your game, wherever you play. Find a tournament near you, then check your match history once results come in.