The 10 Top Pickleball Players in the World

The top 10 pickleball players in the world include Ben Johns, JW Johnson, Tyson McGuffin, and Zane Navratil (for men's pickleball) and Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, Lea Jansen, and Irina Tereschenko (for women's pickleball). 

The 10 Top Pickleball Players in the World

Men’s and Women’s Singles

Men’s and Women’s Doubles

Men’s and Women’s Mixed Doubles

The best pickleball players of all time

Kris Anderson

Kris has always been an avid tennis player. She played pickleball for the first time at the gym at the suggestion of a friend and loved it so much that she went out and purchased her own pickleball paddles.

It was at the USAPA Nationals in 2014 that Kris won her first pickleball tournament, in the Women’s 50+ division, with her doubles partner, Tracy Worley. Her most recent victory was at the Texas Open in mixed doubles with partner Dave Weinbach in 2019.

Terry Brine

Terry Brine plays in both Canada and the United States. In 2019, Terry and his partner Barrie Hill won gold in the Men’s 65+ doubles category at the Duel in the Desert. Over the course of his competitive career, he has won eight gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Tony Girodo

Tony Girodo and his wife spent several years touring America in their RV. One day, they parked in Palm Springs near a pickleball game. Tony went over to watch, and before he knew it, he had a paddle in his hand and was playing the game.

Tony has won the following competitions:

• National Senior Games Mixed Doubles (Silver)
• Wickenburg Ranch Men’s Doubles (Gold)
• Grand Canyon Mixed Doubles Skill/Age (Gold)
• Robson Ranch Mixed Doubles Skill/Age (Silver)

Lea Jansen

Lea Jansen began competing professionally in 2021 and has already won two titles from the Professional Pickleball Association. In addition to her fiery attitude on the court, Lea has the skills to back it up.

Ben Johns

As the first player to obtain a sponsorship deal in pickleball, Ben Johns is the number one pickleball player in the world. He’s consistently in the top few positions for men’s singles and men’s doubles.

Having played a number of sports, including tennis and padel, he settled on pickleball.

Tyson McGuffin

Tyson McGuffin has been playing pickleball since he was 24 years old. Originally a wrestler and a tennis player, McGuffin switched to pickleball after he was introduced to the sport by one of his tennis students. It was at the 2017 USA Pickleball National Championships that he won a major title for the first time.

Dan McLaughlin

Dan McLaughlin is over 65 years old and a former tennis player. Dan travels to tournaments throughout the country and enjoys playing mixed doubles and men’s doubles.

Among his most recent successes are a gold medal in the 2019 US Open Men’s Skills/Age Doubles with Jim Hackenberg and a bronze medal in the mixed doubles with Jo Anne Russel.

Paul Olin

Paul Olin has won medals in a number of events over the past few years, including the 2019 US Open (Silver) and The Lakes Spring Fling (Gold).

Paul retired from his career as a Naval Aviator in 2011, creating space for an impressive career in pickleball. 

Barry Waddell

At the 2019 US Open, Barry Waddell won the gold medal in the men’s senior doubles section. Waddell began playing pickleball at 47. His claim to fame is playing his first game in flip-flops (he’s since moved on to pickleball shoes).

Leigh Waters

Leigh Waters is one of the youngest professional pickleball players in the world. Leigh lives in Florida, and began playing pickleball with her grandfather just for fun. It wasn’t long before she became obsessed with the game. She plays both singles and doubles with her mom as her partner.

Gregg Whitfield

Having played competitive tennis for many years, Gregg Whitfield began playing pickleball for fun and fitness at the age of 60. It wasn’t long before he became a professional player.

He’s earned gold medals at the USAPA Nationals and the US Open Pickleball Championships.