Kiora Kunimoto Went From Newcomer to PPA Final in 21 Months

Kate Fahey took game two 11-2. Kiora Kunimoto answered with an 11-5 decider and walked off a quarter-final win over the top seed at the Rate Las Vegas Open. She had taken the first game 11-8.

That win over the No. 1 seed carried the player from Hilo, Hawaiʻi into the women's singles final of the PPA Tour stop, the first PPA Tour final of her career, according to MyPickleball. In the semi-finals she beat Cailyn Campbell. In the final, Kaitlyn Christian took the title 11-8, 2-11, 11-4.

From a First Rally in January 2025 to a Pro Final

MyPickleball's profile says Kunimoto picked up pickleball in January 2025 after her dad, who coaches the game, introduced her to it. She went on to win the Hawaiʻi State High School Girls' Singles title, which the post describes as a feat only two other girls from the Big Island had managed before her.

By June 2025 she had turned professional. The post says she has since collected multiple medals on the PPA Challenger circuit.

The Run in Las Vegas

The quarter-final against Fahey went the distance: 11-8, 2-11, 11-5 to Kunimoto. The semi-final against Campbell then set up the final against Christian, which Christian won in three games.

Kunimoto also played women's doubles at the event, seeded No. 12. She lost her quarter-final 11-9 in the third game to No. 3 seeds Lacy Schneemann and Fahey.

Fellow pro Zane Navratil picked her out in his recap of the week. In his words, she "upset Kate Fahey in women's singles and might just be the player who eventually ends Anna Leigh's two year win streak."

The Paddle in Her Hand

MyPickleball's post says Kunimoto is making her mark with the Selkirk Boomstik. MyPickleball lists the full Boomstik colour lineup as available: Original Edition, Jack Sock, Calypso, Canyon Clay and the 1776 Capsule Limited Edition.

This article is based on social media posts and historical data tracked by Pickle361.