Best Pickleball Players: Top Professional Athletes Dominating the Sport in 2025

The world of professional pickleball has evolved dramatically over the past decade, transforming from a casual backyard game into a highly competitive racquet sport featuring elite athletes who dedicate countless hours to mastering their craft. With the establishment of sophisticated ranking systems like DUPR and professional tours such as the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, we now have clear metrics to identify who truly represents the best player talent in the sport.

What makes these professional pickleball players stand out isn’t just their ability to hit the ball with precision or their court positioning – it’s their complete mastery of strategy, mental toughness, and adaptability across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles play. Many of these athletes come from tennis, table tennis, and other racquet sports backgrounds, bringing transferable skills that help them compete at the highest level.

In 2025, the professional pickleball landscape features unprecedented depth and parity, with several players challenging for the top spot across different formats. From established champions to rising stars making their mark, let’s explore who currently ranks among the best pickleball players in the world.

Current Top Men’s Pickleball Players

The men’s professional pickleball scene in 2025 showcases remarkable talent depth, with Ben Johns continuing to solidify his position as the sport’s most dominant force. Johns has maintained his status as the best player through consistent excellence across all formats, earning 5 gold medals in men’s doubles and an impressive 6 golds in mixed doubles on the PPA Tour this season alone.

Ben Johns stands atop the professional rankings with a DUPR rating of 7.354, a number that represents the absolute pinnacle of pickleball skill. His technical innovation, including early adoption of spin-serves and two-handed backhands, has revolutionized how the game is played at the professional level. Johns’ ability to excel in singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles simultaneously demonstrates the kind of versatility that separates good players from truly elite athletes.

Federico Staksrud has emerged as one of the most consistent performers on tour, reaching 6 finals appearances this season despite not capturing gold medals. His steady presence in championship matches proves his ability to compete against the world’s best players week after week, making him a fixture in conversations about top-tier talent.

Andrei Daescu has proven his championship mettle with 5 men’s doubles gold medals in the current season, establishing himself as one of the premier doubles specialists on tour. His partnership chemistry and court awareness make him a formidable opponent in team play formats.

Christian Alshon continues to be a multiple medal winner, though his 2025 season has shown some performance variations that demonstrate how competitive the professional level has become. Even established stars must constantly evolve their game to maintain their position among the elite.

Hayden Patriquin, at just 19 years old, represents the new generation of professional talent. His solid results include a bronze medal partnership with Ben Johns, showcasing his ability to play alongside and compete against the sport’s established stars. Patriquin’s rapid ascension through the professional ranks exemplifies how quickly talented athletes can make their mark in pickleball.

The rankings from 6-10 feature a mix of established veterans and emerging talent, including JW Johnson (currently ranked with a 7.105 DUPR), Gabe Tardio, CJ Klinger, Dekel Bar, and Dylan Frazier. This group represents the incredibly competitive nature of men’s professional pickleball, where any player can potentially upset higher-ranked opponents on any given day.

Players ranked 11-20 continue to demonstrate the sport’s depth, featuring names like Will Howells, Tyson McGuffin, and Riley Newman – athletes who have long been fixtures in professional pickleball and continue to compete at the highest level despite the influx of younger talent.

Rising Stars and Most Improved Players

While established names dominate the top rankings, the 2025 season has produced several breakthrough performances that signal the sport’s evolving competitive landscape. The standout story among rising stars is CJ Klinger, who has earned recognition as the most improved player on the professional circuit.

Klinger’s remarkable ascension to No. 8 overall in the rankings represents one of the most impressive year-over-year improvements in recent professional pickleball history. His consistent threat in men’s doubles has been complemented by strong performances in mixed doubles, including a recent semifinals appearance that demonstrated his versatility across formats.

What makes Klinger’s rise particularly noteworthy is the trajectory of his improvement. Based on his current performance level and continued development, many analysts project he could break into the Top 5 rankings by year-end. This potential achievement would mark him as one of the fastest-rising players in professional pickleball history.

The factors contributing to Klinger’s success mirror what we see in other elite athletes: dedicated practice regimens, strategic coaching relationships, and the mental toughness required to compete against progressively better opponents. His ability to maintain composure in high-pressure situations, particularly during crucial points in tournament play, separates him from other promising players who haven’t yet made the jump to elite status.

Other emerging talents making significant progress on the professional circuit include players who have leveraged backgrounds in tennis, basketball, and other sports to accelerate their pickleball development. The sport’s relatively recent professionalization means there’s still room for athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds to make their mark if they’re willing to invest the time and effort required to master pickleball’s unique demands.

Top Women’s Pickleball Players

The women’s professional pickleball scene features equally impressive talent, with Anna Leigh Waters frequently cited as the top female player in the sport. Her dominance across multiple formats and consistent tournament performances have established her as the benchmark for excellence in women’s professional pickleball.

The women’s doubles champions on the PPA Tour represent a collection of athletes who have mastered the team-oriented aspects of pickleball while maintaining individual excellence. These players demonstrate the importance of communication, court positioning, and strategic thinking that defines elite doubles play.

Mixed doubles specialists in the women’s game often showcase different skill sets compared to their singles and women’s doubles counterparts. The ability to adapt playing styles when partnered with male players requires a unique combination of technical skill and tactical awareness that only the most versatile athletes possess.

Rising stars in women’s professional pickleball continue to emerge from tennis backgrounds, though we’re also seeing athletes from volleyball, table tennis, and other sports make successful transitions. The key factor for success remains the same across genders: the willingness to dedicate countless hours to practice and the mental fortitude to compete at the professional level.

The women’s professional tour continues to grow in both prize money and competitive depth, creating more opportunities for elite female athletes to pursue pickleball as a full-time career. This professional growth attracts better athletes to the sport and raises the overall level of competition.

Understanding Professional Pickleball Rankings

The PPA Rankings system serves as the definitive method for determining player entry and seeding in tournaments across the professional circuit. This objective, merit-based ranking methodology ensures that the most deserving players receive appropriate tournament positioning based on their competitive results.

The PPA employs two distinct ranking formats that serve different purposes in professional competition. The 52 Week rankings reflect points earned over the past 52 weeks on tour, providing a comprehensive view of sustained performance over nearly a full year of competition. This system rewards consistency and prevents short-term hot streaks from dramatically altering a player’s position.

The Race tracking system focuses specifically on points accumulated since the start of the calendar year, offering a more immediate reflection of current form. This format helps identify players who are trending upward or experiencing temporary dips in performance, making it valuable for tournament directors and fans who want to understand recent momentum.

Both ranking systems consider performance across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles formats, though they weight results based on tournament tier and field strength. A victory against Ben Johns carries more ranking value than defeating a lower-ranked player, reflecting the reality that not all wins are created equal in professional competition.

The transparency of the PPA ranking system allows players, coaches, and fans to understand exactly how positions are determined. This clarity helps athletes make strategic decisions about which tournaments to enter and when to peak their performance for maximum ranking benefits.

Tournament directors rely heavily on these rankings to create balanced draws and ensure that the best players receive appropriate seeding. The system’s objectivity removes subjective bias from tournament organization and creates fair competitive environments for all participants.

What Makes a Great Pickleball Player

Elite pickleball performance requires a unique combination of physical skills, mental attributes, and strategic understanding that separates the best players from recreational enthusiasts. Many of the sport’s top professionals leverage tennis backgrounds, bringing court sense, footwork, and paddle skills that translate effectively to pickleball’s smaller court dimensions.

The technical demands of professional pickleball extend far beyond basic ball striking. Elite players must master the dink game around the kitchen line, develop consistent third-shot drops, and execute powerful drives when opportunities arise. The sport’s emphasis on touch and placement over pure power means that countless hours of practice are required to develop the precise ball control that defines professional play.

Mental toughness represents perhaps the most critical factor in separating good players from great ones. Professional pickleball matches often feature extended rallies and momentum swings that test an athlete’s ability to maintain focus under pressure. The best players demonstrate remarkable composure during crucial points, making tactical adjustments mid-match while maintaining their technical execution.

Strategic development in pickleball involves understanding court positioning, shot selection, and partnership dynamics in doubles play. Elite athletes spend significant time studying opponents, identifying weaknesses to exploit, and developing game plans that maximize their strengths while minimizing exposure to opponent advantages.

The transition from recreational to professional play requires a fundamental shift in approach to practice and competition. While casual players might focus on having fun and getting exercise, professional athletes must approach every training session with specific improvement goals and maintain peak physical condition year-round.

Skills from other sports create interesting pathways into professional pickleball. Table tennis players often excel at the net game due to their quick reflexes and touch around the kitchen line. Basketball players bring court awareness and team chemistry that translates well to doubles formats. Tennis players possess the most obvious skill transfer, though they must adapt to pickleball’s unique strategic elements.

Professional Pickleball Tours and Competitions

The PPA Tour stands as the premier professional pickleball circuit, featuring the sport’s top competitors in a structured tournament format that determines official rankings and distributes substantial prize money. The tour’s events range from smaller regional competitions to major championships that attract international attention and media coverage.

Major League Pickleball offers a different competitive format, featuring team-based competition that creates unique strategic dynamics compared to traditional tournament play. The league’s structure allows for different player combinations and formats that can produce surprise results and accelerate talent discovery among emerging professionals.

Tournament structure across professional circuits typically features multiple divisions, allowing players to compete in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles within the same event. This format rewards versatility and creates opportunities for athletes to maximize their competitive schedule and prize money earnings.

Qualification requirements for professional events vary based on tournament tier and field strength. Top-ranked players receive direct entry into premier events, while others must qualify through regional tournaments or challenger-level competitions. This system ensures that tournament fields maintain high competitive standards while providing pathways for emerging talent.

Prize money in professional pickleball has grown dramatically in recent years, creating legitimate career opportunities for elite athletes. The sport’s rapid growth has attracted sponsorship investment and media attention that supports increased purses and appearance fees for top players.

Professional opportunities extend beyond prize money to include coaching contracts, equipment sponsorships, and media appearances. The best players often develop multiple revenue streams that support full-time dedication to competitive pickleball.

Rankings significantly affect tournament seeding and entry, with higher-ranked players receiving favorable draw positions and automatic qualification for premier events. This system rewards sustained excellence while creating incentives for continued improvement and competitive participation.

The professional tour structure continues to evolve as the sport grows, with new events being added regularly and existing tournaments expanding their prize money and field sizes. This growth creates more opportunities for professional athletes while raising the overall level of competition across all events.

The Future of Professional Pickleball

The current state of professional pickleball represents an exciting period of growth and evolution, with the sport attracting elite athletes from diverse backgrounds and creating legitimate career opportunities for the world’s best players. The depth of talent across both men’s and women’s professional tours continues to expand, making each tournament increasingly competitive.

The establishment of comprehensive ranking systems and professional tours has created clear pathways for player development, from recreational enthusiasts to professional competitors. This structure supports the sport’s continued growth while maintaining high competitive standards that showcase pickleball’s athletic demands.

Young stars like Hayden Patriquin and CJ Klinger demonstrate that the sport’s future remains bright, with new talent constantly emerging to challenge established champions. The combination of veteran leadership from players like Ben Johns and fresh perspectives from rising stars creates a dynamic competitive environment that benefits the entire sport.

As pickleball continues its rapid expansion globally, the professional level will likely see even greater depth and international competition. The sport’s accessibility combined with its competitive ceiling makes it an attractive option for elite athletes seeking new challenges and career opportunities.

Whether you’re a casual fan following professional tournaments or an aspiring player working to improve your game, understanding what separates the best pickleball players from the rest provides valuable insights into the sport’s highest levels. The dedication, skill, and competitive drive demonstrated by today’s professional athletes continue to elevate pickleball’s profile and inspire the next generation of players to pursue excellence in this rapidly growing sport.