5 Things That "Might" Happen in 2026

1. Wimbledon Hands a Wildcard to YouTube Star “Mr Ace”

In 2026, Wimbledon shocks the tennis world by awarding a men’s singles wildcard to YouTube sensation Mr Ace, whose trick-shot videos and slow-motion serve breakdowns have earned him 40 million subscribers. Against all odds, he draws Nick Kyrgios in the first round. The result? A five-set, four-hour epic featuring underarm serves, 140 mph aces, crowd interactions, and multiple code violations.

The match becomes the most-watched tennis event in history, eclipsing the Super Bowl, the World Cup final, and every previous Grand Slam final combined. Traditionalists are horrified. Broadcasters are thrilled. The All England Club insists it was “about inspiring the next generation.”

2. Bryson DeChambeau Retires from Golf for Pickleball — in Space

After deciding golf no longer offers enough innovation, Bryson DeChambeau announces his retirement and reinvention as a professional pickleball player. Within months, he launches the world’s first mixed doubles league, blending celebrity, analytics, and aerospace engineering.

His chosen partner? Taylor Swift. The league’s inaugural event is held on a floating pickleball court in low Earth orbit, with modified scoring to account for zero gravity. The pair win the first title, naturally, while merchandise sales briefly exceed global GDP. Scientists remain confused, but investors declare it “a disruptor.”

3. Padel Makes the Olympics — After Banning Lobs

After years of lobbying, padel finally earns Olympic inclusion… on one condition. In a controversial move to “simplify the sport for television audiences,” officials agree to ban lobbing entirely. Any shot that travels above the height of the glass is deemed illegal.

Defensive play disappears overnight. Rallies last six seconds. Coaches rewrite training manuals. Traditionalists protest, while casual viewers enjoy the relentless speed. The experiment lasts exactly one Olympic cycle before being quietly abandoned and never mentioned again.

4. AI Replaces All Racket Sport Officials

In the name of efficiency, every major racket sport announces it will replace human officials with a single, all-seeing AI referee. Line calls are perfect. Rule enforcement is instantaneous. Unfortunately, the system also issues time violations for “excessive towel usage,” “negative body language,” and “sarcastic clapping.”

Players appeal. The AI rejects all appeals, citing “emotional bias.” Fans miss arguing about bad calls almost immediately.

5. One Subscription to Watch Every Racket Sport

In a stunning display of unity, every major tour, league, and federation agrees to launch one global streaming platform for all racket sports. Tennis, padel, pickleball, squash, and badminton live together under one subscription, available worldwide at a reasonable price.

The industry celebrates. Fans rejoice. And then someone asks who owns the customer data — and the project disappears forever.

So no, these things won’t happen in 2026. But imagining them reminds us why the racket sports industry is endlessly entertaining — both on and off the court.