Pickleball’s Pro Lineup: How Many Really Came From Tennis?

The rapid growth of pickleball has naturally drawn comparisons to tennis, but the real connections between the two sports are even stronger than you might expect. The PPA Tour, founded just four years ago, has seen an impressive 90% of its pro players come from a tennis background. From recreational players to collegiate athletes and seasoned coaches, most pros have roots in tennis that translate well to pickleball’s unique style. This overlap includes top players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters, who both had tennis experience before turning pro. Although Johns credits his table tennis background as key, and Waters made her switch at a young age, both still reflect the tennis-to-pickleball trend.

For those who competed in college, 68% of the 90% with tennis backgrounds made a mark as collegiate players, with some even achieving All-American status. Another 18% of the pro pickleball roster includes former ATP and WTA players, underscoring the sport’s appeal to high-level athletes. Meanwhile, only 8.3% of pros have a background in tennis coaching, often blending their instructional skills with competitive experience. Notably, Tyson McGuffin stands out as one of only two players to have filled all three categories: coach, collegiate, and professional.

Still, pickleball is attracting talent beyond the tennis sphere. About 10% of PPA players come from other sports or started directly in pickleball without any tennis influence. With the launch of the PickleballTV app, fans can now watch the sport’s top athletes and appreciate the variety of backgrounds that have helped elevate pickleball to one of the fastest-growing sports in America. Whether from tennis or other courts, these pros bring diverse skills and stories to the pickleball scene, making it more dynamic and accessible than ever.