Top 10 Pickleball Players - Pickleball Legends -

Pickleball has taken the sports world by storm, captivating players of all ages and skill levels. Ever wondered who stands at the pinnacle of pickleball greatness?

Who are the Top pickleball players that have truly mastered this sport?

These are some of the top-ranked players Ben Johns, Collin Johns, Matt Wright, Anna Leigh Waters, JW Johnson, Dylan Frazier, Tyson McGuffin, Jay Devilliers, Federico Staksrud, and Pablo Tellez.

Here, I’ll delve into the lives and achievements of some of the most famous pickleball players. and here we also talk about legendary pickleball players: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.

These players aren’t just really good; they’re the very best and represent what makes pickleball so exciting!

Top 10 Pickleball Players: Recognizing The Ultimate Best Players

Pickleball, a fast-paced and addictive sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has been gaining popularity across the globe.

As more people pick up a paddle and hit the courts, it’s only natural to wonder who the best pickleball players are.

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) maintains rankings for professional pickleball players based on their performance in both singles and doubles events.

#1 Ben Johns

Ben Johns is an American professional pickleball player who started playing pickleball at the age of 17.

He has won more than 50 gold medals, including 11 Triple Crown Medals in the Men’s Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles levels.

He is ranked No. 1 in the world for mixed doubles, No. 1 in the world for singles, and No. 1 in the world for Men’s Doubles by the Pro Pickleball Association1.

#2 Matt Wright

Matt Wight is a professional pickleball player from Wichita, Kansas. He is currently ranked #2 in the world in men’s doubles and #5 in the world in mixed doubles.

Wright has won numerous pickleball tournaments, including the 2022 PPA Tour Championship in mixed doubles.

Wright is known for his all-court game and his ability to finish points at the net. He has a powerful serve and a great volley. Wright is also a great teammate and leader.

#3 Collin Johns

Collin Johns is an American professional pickleball player who made his professional debut at the 2019 US Open, where he made the semifinals in Men’s Pro Singles.

He is the best top 10 player in both divisions and regularly partners with his brother Benjamin Johns for doubles matches.

#4 Riley Newman

Riley Newman is a professional pickleball player from Washington. He has been playing pickleball since 2017 and has quickly become one of the top players in the world. He is ranked No. 3 in the world for doubles and No.

He has won 5 PPA titles in 2022. Riley Newman was the third overall pick in Major League Pickleball and the second men’s player selected.

He is known for his unique style of play and is a fan favorite

#5 JW Johnson

JW Johnson is an American professional pickleball player who was raised in Pittsburg, Kansas before he and his family moved to Naples, Florida to pursue a tennis career for him and his sister, Jorja.

He has been playing pickleball ever since and is among the top 10 players in the world. He was the youngest player in history to win the men’s singles title at the age of 19.

#6 Dylan Frazier

Dylan Frazier is a 19-year-old college sophomore who has quickly made his way up the pickleball ranks.

He started playing pickleball in 2016 and has already become one of the best players in the country. Dylan is currently ranked 7th overall in Men’s Singles and has competed in men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

He recently signed with Selkirk, one of the biggest names in pickleball paddles. Dylan has a calm demeanor when he plays and still has a lot of fun with the sport, even though it has become his career

#7 Tyson McGuffin

Tyson McGuffin is a professional pickleball player who is considered one of the top-ranked players in the world. At 31 years old, he is one of the youngest and most accomplished players in the game.

Tyson has been a 5-time Grand Slam Champion and a 4-time National Champion. Tyson was a high-level tennis player and coach before he discovered his passion for pickleball in 2015.

He has quickly risen through the ranks and is known for his exceptional skills on the court. Tyson uses a Selkirk Amped Series paddle when he plays.

#8 Jay Devilliers

Jay Devilliers, also known as the Flying Frenchman, is a professional pickleball player from France. He turned pro in 2020 and has consistently been one of the top players on tour. Jay is fluent in French, English, and Spanish.

He was a former tennis player at Wichita State University from 2013 to 2017. Jay is known for his fiery demeanor and has proven himself to be one of the most exciting players to watch.

He has shot to the top of the sport in all three divisions and is one of the most popular professional pickleball players on tour.

#9 Federico Staksrud

Federico Staksrud is a rising talent in the pickleball world. He started playing tennis when he was just 5 years old in his home country of Argentina.

He later moved to the U.S. to pursue an education and continue playing tennis at the University of New Orleans. Once his tennis career was over, Federico was introduced to pickleball in July of 2021 and has quickly become one of the top players in the world.

Federico won the 2022 Atlanta Open PBA tournament by beating Rafa Hewitt in the finals and even beat Tyson McGuffin at the U.S.

#10 Pablo Tellez

Pablo Tellez is an exciting pickleball pro from Columbia with a true love for the sport. He comes from a tennis background and played in college at the University of West Florida.

Pablo has recently been focusing on his new pickleball career. He has a calm demeanor on the court and is known for his unique style of play.

Top 10 Female Players in Pickleball

These are the top 10 females in pickleball Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, Catherine Parenteau, Callie Jo Smith, Lucy Kovalova, Lea Jansen, Meghan Dizon, Jessie Irvine, Allyce Jones, and Jackie Kawamoto

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) diligently assesses and categorizes professional female pickleball players, considering their outstanding performance in both singles and doubles events.

#1 Anna Leigh Waters

Anna Leigh Waters is an American professional pickleball player who has been dominating the PPA pickleball tour since she was 12 years old.

She is ranked No. 1 in the world for doubles, No. 1 for mixed doubles, and No. for singles by the Professional Pickleball Association.

Anna Leigh Waters has won numerous championships and has achieved several notable milestones in her career.

She was the youngest professional pickleball player in history at age 12 and is known for playing doubles in a team with her mother.

Her exceptional skills, dedication, and success have made her a star in the pickleball community.

#2 Anna Bright

Anna Bright is one of Pickleball’s brightest rising stars. She’s a young player who brings passion and fire to the court every time she plays.

Anna has tackled some big challenges in her life, like hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail for 113 days, and now she’s tackling the pro pickleball scene.

Anna Bright is a former D1 collegiate athlete who played Varsity tennis for the University of California-Berkeley and reached a career-high ranking of #13 in the country.

This former top 15 collegiate player has become one of the world’s best pickleball players and is best known for her attacking style and two-handed backhand shot.

#3 Catherine Parenteau

Catherine Parenteau is a Canadian professional pickleball player who has achieved remarkable success in the sport. As of August 12, 2023, she is ranked No. 3 in the world for Women’s Singles, No. 3 in the world for Women’s Doubles, And No. 3 in the world for Women’s Mixed Doubles by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA).

Catherine Parenteau is one of today’s most well-known players in women’s professional pickleball.

Catherine Parenteau has become one of the world’s best pickleball players and continues to inspire others with her talent and achievements.

#4 Callie Jo Smith

Callie Jo Smith is a renowned professional pickleball player who has made a name for herself in the sport. In 2021, she was ranked as high as No. 4 in both Women’s Doubles and Women’s Singles by the Professional Pickleball Association.

Smith’s impressive skills on the court have helped her become one of the top players in the game. She is known for her aggressive style of play and her two-handed backhand.

Callie Jo Smith is a former tennis player who played Division I tennis at the University of Utah.

Smith is also known for her big smile, sweet personality, and signature long braid on-court, which has earned her the nickname “Rapunzel”

#5 Lucy Kovalova

Lucy Kovalova is a professional pickleball player who has made a name for herself in the sport. She started playing pickleball around 2015 and quickly became one of the top players in the world.

Lucy is originally from Slovakia and played tennis for Wichita State University, where she was ranked No. 1 in doubles for her entire four years.

Since transitioning to pickleball, Lucy Kovalova has achieved remarkable success and has become a nine-time medalist at the US Open Championship, a two-time champion at the Tournament of Champions, and a four-time USA National Champion.

#6 Lea Jansen

Lea Jansen is a professional pickleball player who has had a successful career in the sport. She started playing pickleball in 2013 and quickly became a top player. Lea Jansen has won numerous titles at the local, regional, and national levels.

She is known for her competitiveness and fiery on-court persona, making her one of the most exciting up-and-coming prospects on the PPA Tour. Lea grew up in Spokane, Washington, and competed in tennis from a young age.

She was the top-ranked player out of the Pacific Northwest in every age group and went on to play at the collegiate level at Washington State University, where she became conference player of the year and a first-team NAIA All-American.

#7 Meghan Dizon

Meghan Dizon is a professional pickleball player who currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She became a touring pro on the PPA Tour in 2022.

Prior to picking up pickleball in 2019, she was a highly decorated tennis player in high school and college. She played Division 1 tennis at Brigham Young University.

Dizon’s tennis background has helped her become a formidable competitor on the pickleball court. Her powerful drives and accurate drops have helped her make several deep runs on the PPA Tour over the past year.

#8 Jessie Irvine

Jessie Irvine is a professional pickleball player who hails from Cary, North Carolina. She is known for her incredible passion, athleticism, and fierce spirit on the court.

Jessie’s journey to pickleball began after a unique shoulder injury forced her to give up her professional tennis career. Despite this setback, she found solace in the world of pickleball and has since become one of the top female players in the sport.

Before transitioning to pickleball, Jessie was a highly accomplished tennis player. She was once ranked in the Top 10 of nationally ranked juniors by the age of 13.

In pickleball, Jessie has made a name for herself with her powerful drives and accurate drops. Her skills have propelled her to the top of women’s pro pickleball rankings in all three divisions

#9 Allyce Jones

Allyce Jones is a professional pickleball player who currently resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She turned pro in 2021 and has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the game, with a rising profile both on and off the court.

Allyce was a highly accomplished volleyball player. She won two tennis state championships and a volleyball state championship in high school

She is currently ranked among the top 10 female pickleball players in the world for both singles and doubles. When she’s not playing pickleball, Allyce enjoys practicing yoga, reading books, baking delicious treats, and indulging in board games.

#10 Jackie Kawamoto

Jackie Kawamoto is a former college tennis player turned professional pickleball player. She played tennis, along with her twin sister Jade, at the University of Dayton before transitioning to pickleball

She was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, and currently resides in Indianapolis. Jackie Kawamoto started playing pickleball in 2019 and quickly rose through the ranks due to her athleticism and previous tennis experience. She has a doubles rating of 5.88 and a singles rating of 3.50

Conclusion

we’ve unraveled the best top 10 pickleball players, those who have set the courts ablaze with their exceptional skills and unwavering determination.

pickleball is not just a game it’s a dynamic and inclusive community where players of all backgrounds come together to celebrate their passion for the sport.

The rankings provided by the PPA offer a window into this world of extraordinary talent, where the best of the best continually redefine the limits of what can be achieved on the court.

FAQS

What are pickleball players called?

Pickleball players are commonly referred to as “pickleballers” or simply “players” within the pickleball community.

Who is playing celebrity pickleball?

Many celebrities are playing pickleball, including, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Kardashians, Emma Watson, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Jenna Bush, and many more.

Are there professional pickleball players?

Yes, there are professional pickleball players who compete in tournaments and earn sponsorships. The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and other organizations organize professional pickleball events.

Does Bill Gates play pickleball?

Yes, Bill Gates plays pickleball. He has been playing for over 50 years and is a big fan of the sport. In 2022, Gates released a video on his YouTube channel in which he talked about his love of pickleball.

References

https://www.ppatour.com/player-rankings-table/
https://thepickleballsource.com/

Rank	Player Name	Height	Country	Profile
#1	Anna Leigh Waters	5’ 6	United States
#2	Anna Bright	5′ 5	United States
#3	Catherine Parenteau	5’ 5	Canada
#4	Callie Jo Smith	5′ 10	United States
#5	Lucy Kovalova	5′ 9	United States
#6	Lea Jansen	5′ 10	Washington
#7	Meghan Dizon	5′ 9	United States
#8	Jessie Irvine	5′ 8	United States
#9	Allyce Jones	5′ 2	United States
#10	Jackie Kawamoto	5′ 3	United States

Top 10 Pickleball Players – Pickleball Legends