Tennis Stars Embracing the Rise of Pickleball
The world of professional pickleball is witnessing a surge of former tennis players, with over 22 individuals making the transition from the tennis court to the pickleball court. This trend is not limited to a few high-profile names like Jack Sock, Eugenie Bouchard, Donald Young, and Sam Querrey.
Among the notable former tennis players now excelling in pickleball is Collin Johns, brother of pickleball sensation Ben Johns. Collin achieved a career-high ATP ranking of No. 978 in singles and No. 939 in doubles. Altalf Merchant, once India’s top-ranked junior player, also made the switch. Parris Todd, who began competing on the ITF tour at age 14, has won over 85 titles.
Remarkably, 12 of these former tennis pros also competed at the collegiate level. The PPA boasts first-team All-Americans like Lea Jansen, NCAA champions like Pablo Tellez, and accomplished doubles teams like brothers Yates and Hunter Johnson. Hunter Johnson notably defeated Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime during his ATP tour run and reached a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 198.
Interestingly, a significant number of these former tennis players also coached, with some attributing their introduction to pickleball to their time at country clubs. Tyson McGuffin, who briefly competed collegiately and professionally, served as a head tennis pro for six years before discovering his passion for pickleball.
For some pro pickleball players, tennis served as a stepping stone into the rapidly growing sport. Anna Leigh Waters, arguably pickleball’s biggest star, played tennis and soccer before becoming the youngest pickleball pro at age 12. Alix Truong, a former high school tennis player who played first singles and doubles, also made the transition to pickleball.
In conclusion, while Jack Sock, Eugenie Bouchard, Donald Young, and Sam Querrey are well-known names in both tennis and pickleball, they represent only a fraction of the former tennis players who have embraced the sport. With 90% of the 144 players currently listed on the PPA tour having a tennis background, it is evident that tennis and pickleball are becoming increasingly intertwined.
