It's 2026, and you know what that means! It's a great time to start fresh, and experience New Beginnings (Finch song), and for some of our JOOLA signature athletes, that means new on-court partnerships.

While some of these partnerships end up being one-off's, others can blossom in to utter domination (See: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh or if you prefer Anna Leigh and Anna Bright). 

At the first tour stop of 2026, the 2026 PPA Masters, we got some new, and exciting JOOLA on-court pairings, including two new mixed-doubles teams; Kate Fahey and Federico Staksrud, and Noe Khlif and Tina Pisnik. 

Each team performed well in their innagural run, each making it to the semi-finals, with Kate and Fed losing to the eventual champions Ben and Anna Leigh, and Noe and Tina being bested by Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin.

But what really goes into choosing the perfect partner? Who makes the first move, and what does the courting process look like? To find out, we went straight to the source. Join us as Kate, Fed, and Noe reveal how pro pickleball players navigate new-partner meet-cutes, awkward first conversations, and the chemistry that turns a casual hit into a legendary pair. Let's find out:

KATE FAHEY

What do you look for in a partner? A partner who always puts in 100% effort no matter the score. Someone who plays every match with the same intensity and communicates effectively throughout the match. Also they have to show positivity and encouragement to their partner even when the match is not going their way.

With your latest partnership, who approahced who? Fed reached out to me and I was really excited to play with him. We have the same energy and intensity which I think meshes well on the court. Playing with the same partner for many tournaments has advantages because you get to learn your partners patterns and habits. So we can continue to grow and get better. 

What challenges come with new partnerships? One of the challenges is not knowing your partners patterns or habits at first. Which shots they like to hit at different points throughout the match, etc. Watching film to learn patterns and tendencies of your partner and how you can set them up better is very beneficial and essential to a new partnership.

NOE KHLIF

What do you look for in a partner? My ideal partner is someone who communicates well, competes hard, and brings positive energy on the court. Skill sets matter, but trust, accountability, and the ability to problem-solve together under pressure are just as important. I value a partner who’s willing to put in the work, adapt, and keep pushing to get better as a team.

With your latest partnership, who approahced who?  I reached out to Tina back in October to plan for the first half of the year. She was interested in playing several tournaments together so we could build as a team. So we are playing the first 4 together. 

What challenges come with new partnerships? Some of the challenges are that you have to figure out the patterns that your partner uses on specific balls so you can anticipate better. Also finding patterns that work well for both players and that make you a tough team to beat. Finally I think chemistry is really important and sometimes it’s hard to know in advance if you gonna mesh well with your partner.

FEDERICO STAKSRUD (Man of few words)

What do you look for in a partner? Good communication, positive energy, and someon who is always giving 100 percent.

With your latest partnership, who approahced who?  I approached Kate. And what does courting mean?

What challenges come with new partnerships? I think communicating and finding ways to improve. Watching film and recognizing patterns that work

At the end of the day, new pickleball partnerships are part strategy, part instinct, and a whole lot of communication. Whether they turn into a short-term experiment or the start of something special, every pairing begins the same way: with a conversation, a shared goal, and a willingness to figure it out together.

As Kate, Fed, and Noe shared, finding the right partner isn’t about perfection, it’s about energy, trust, and putting in the work. Early results indicate these partnerships are off to a good start, and they may just be the 'new beginnings' of something special.