If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know the season finale of Love Island is right around the corner. It’s been a wildly entertaining ride, but like all good things, it’s coming to an end. Of course, with the show dominating the conversation, Major League Pickleball couldn’t resist joining in, asking its pros which players they think would thrive in the villa.

Yates Johnson from the Orlando Squeeze said: “Jay Devilliers because he’s French. He’s got the accent, and he’s pretty good looking.”

Devilliers may be a married father of four, but you can’t fault Johnson for the pick. The suave “Flying Frenchman” has all the makings of a standout. Drop him into another timeline, and he’s a perfect Love Island contestant.

Devilliers had his pick locked in, naming Jaume Martinez Vich as the best fit for Love Island—and he wasn’t alone. Martinez Vich quickly emerged as a fan favorite among the pros, with Cleo Bond and Federico Staksrud also backing him as a top choice.

Martinez Vich didn’t shy away from the idea either. He fully backed himself as Love Island material, even going as far as to say he’d win the whole thing.

“I will win cause I’m an island boy,” said the Hawaii native. 

Martinez Vich already has a reputation as one of the biggest flirts on tour, and paired with his pro-athlete charm, he’d be a natural “bombshell” in the villa. You can easily picture him walking in, turning heads, stealing a few hearts, and quickly becoming a fan favorite on his way to coupling up and taking home that $50K prize.

While Martinez Vich backed himself as the top pick, he had a strong second choice ready—Hayden Patriquin. With his personality and presence, Patriquin would be another entertaining figure, more than capable of shaking things up.

And for the girls, there were a few nominees. Staksrud suggested Anna Bright, “because she’s always talking about dating. Every time I open up Instagram she’s talking about dating.”

Bright has a strong case as pro pickleball’s most eligible bachelorette, and she’s never been shy about sharing stories from her dating life. She’d be a natural on reality TV. Her candid humor alone would make her an instant fan favorite. And honestly, don’t be surprised if she ends up turning the tables and winning over Martinez Vich.

A few other names thrown out were Bond, Hurricane Tyra Black, and Parris Todd. Each of these women are incredible athletes, have immaculate fashion, and literally look like models. Of course they’d make perfect Love Island contestants.

The Texas Ranchers also got into the Love Island fandom when they made a full video where their players filmed a pickleball-themed intro for the show. Eric Oncins, Layne Sleeth, Lea Jansen, and Marcela Ampon introduced themselves as the OG love islanders. 

Then a hot new bombshell entered the villa – Nico Acevedo. It was hilarious timing right after he was traded to the Ranchers. 

With pro pickleball’s popularity continuing to surge, it feels inevitable that we’ll see a player make the jump to a reality dating show. It’s not a matter of if, but when. And when that moment comes, I’ll definitely be tuning in.

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