Best Pickleball Players Ever – 6 Players Who Changed The Game

With this list of the best pickleball players ever, we are paying tribute to a sport that’s kept growing in popularity. Flexible, challenging, and rather welcoming. Yet, this sport does not live by its rules alone. Because it is the players who made it what it is!

Today, we are going to introduce you to our pick for the best pickleball players ever! While many deserve to be named here, we have selected a few who pushed their boundaries much beyond the general professional expectations. These people wrote history, proved skeptical people wrong, and even expanded Pickleball as a sport by creating businesses and promoting it. 

This definitely contributed to the fact that each year, the popularity of pickleball is gradually increasing. Similar to tennis, Pickleball is also played in doubles and singles. Therefore, most of these players know each other beyond the competition, as teammates and friends. Register at any of the online sportsbook sites in Romania and place a bet online!

6. AJ Kollar – Best Pickleball Players Ever

Known for his lightning-quick hands, tall stature (6’1″), and his ability to dominate the net, He’s often described as a “flashy” and unpredictable player, incorporating trick shots and lobs. Kollar deserves to be named on this list. His athletic journey didn’t begin with pickleball, but it certainly found its heart there. He has a Civil Engineering degree and worked in construction project management before becoming a full-time professional player. According to 11 Pickles, AJ Kollar is a lover of many sports. Because of his background in tennis and basketball, AJ brought explosive agility and sharp reflexes to the court.

He competes fiercely but carries himself with professionalism. That balance of intensity and grace earns him respect from fans and rivals alike. He represents a generation that sees pickleball as both a passion and an art form. His presence on the court inspires upcoming players who dream of leaving their mark. Register at 22BET Sportsbook and bet on pickleball online!

5. Tyson McGuffin

Truly an outstanding person among the best pickleball players ever. The 34-year-old Tyson McGuffin is the best example of why pickleball is the best among the pro sports careers you can start at any age! His story proves that timing matters less than determination. Before becoming a pickleball icon, Tyson was a tennis coach. Because of that foundation, his transition to pickleball came naturally. However, what surprises many is how fast he dominated. Within a short time, he became one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. 

Beyond tournaments, Tyson became an ambassador for the sport. He travels, teaches, and motivates new players across the country. His coaching background allows him to explain the game’s strategy in ways that connect deeply. Thus, his influence spreads beyond the court. Because of him, countless new players picked up paddles and fell in love with the sport. Tyson is also the heart of the sport, since he is very active in promoting the sport, running clinics nationwide, and producing instructional videos. He resides in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

4. Federico Staksrud – Best Pickleball Players Ever

While not one of the most popular names here, we’d like to put an emphasis on his fascinating results. Like many top players, he has a strong tennis background, having played at the collegiate level and coached. Staksrud has surpassed many other professional players’ careers. While not rising to the top on the first time, like many athlete, he prevailed through bettering his game. Therefore, Federico Staksrud’s career reminds us that progress comes from persistence.

He teaches that mastery begins with curiosity and ends with perfection. Watching him play feels like watching time slow down, every move deliberate, every swing precise. His story belongs among the sport’s greatest chapters. What makes him unique is that he is known for his aggressive and powerful serves and strategic play. Therefore, people who prefer to play with strength over elegance can also find their way to the top.

3. Anna Leigh Waters

Leigh represents the many wonderful women among the best pickleball players ever. She is a true phenom and made history by becoming the youngest professional pickleball player and champion ever at age 12 in 2019. At a young age, Anna showed an instinct that couldn’t be taught. She reads the court faster than most and strikes before opponents can react. Thus, she often dominates rallies, controlling pace and direction with fierce intent. Her timing feels almost supernatural, turning defense into instant offense. However, that control didn’t appear overnight. She built it through tireless repetition and deep focus.

According to Pickleland, Leigh is one of the best women players, with an extremely aggressive playstyle. However, Anna stands out individually, too. She has defeated veterans twice her age, proving that talent knows no limits. Her confidence never crosses into arrogance. Instead, it feels rooted in discipline. She studies her mistakes, adjusts instantly, and plays smarter each time. Because of this, she remains one of the toughest opponents on any court.

2. Gabriel Tardio – Best Pickleball Players Ever

Sometimes, you have to give back to the sport, and Tardio is one of the best examples of this. He is often considered the best right-side player on the tour by experts. Also, he is one of the younger stars on the professional tour, originally from Bolivia, where he was introduced to pickleball by his grandfather. If you want to learn how to bet on pickleball, then Gabriel Tardio is one of the best picks on international games right now!

He currently plays for the St. Louis Shock in Major League Pickleball. This young Bolivian player amassed 17400 points on the international doubles rankings. Therefore, his story right now is to rise to the top and potentially achieve the world’s 1st rank, the first time in his career. He has won many events, but can he become the best? These questions motivate most of us to place a bet on these players.

1. Ben Johns

A man who defeated all of the best pickleball players ever. Widely considered the greatest pickleball player of all time, he has held the world No. 1 ranking across all three divisions. His regular Men’s Doubles partner is his older brother, Collin Johns. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Materials Science & Engineering and co-owns several pickleball-related businesses, including an instructional video subscription service and a luxury vacation company.

He has had a historically dominant Mixed Doubles partnership with Anna Leigh Waters. According to the PPA Tour, at just 26 years old, he already has 18700 points, in the 1st international ranking placement. In conclusion, Ben Johns is the most influential pickleball player and also a teacher. He teaches people how to play, dominates the international competition, and makes a business space within the sport. One could say he lives and breathes pickleball. Register at 22BET Sportsbook to bet on any pickleball events anytime!

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