Who Is the Number One Pickleball Player?

There is no single, universally agreed-upon "number one" pickleball player, since rankings depend on which system and tour you're looking at — PPA Tour rankings, MLP team performance, DUPR ratings, and other tour rankings can each tell a different story, and the top spot changes frequently as players compete throughout the season.

Why There's No Single Definitive Answer

Multiple rating and ranking systems: DUPR provides a skill rating based on match results, while the PPA Tour, MLP, and other professional tours each maintain their own separate ranking or standings systems based on results within their own competition.
Different formats: A player who dominates singles may not hold the same ranking in doubles or mixed doubles, and the PPA Tour and MLP track rankings and standings separately by format and competition type.
Rankings change constantly: PPA Tour rankings and MLP standings update regularly based on tournament and match results throughout the season, meaning the top-ranked player or team can change multiple times per year.

Note

Because rankings shift throughout each season, the most reliable way to find the current top-ranked player is to check the official current rankings published by the PPA Tour, MLP, or DUPR directly, rather than relying on a name from an older article or outdated source.

Historically Dominant Players

Pickleball's competitive history has featured a number of players widely regarded as among the most dominant in the sport, with names like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters frequently mentioned in discussions of the sport's top all-time competitors due to their extended periods of high-level success across the PPA Tour, MLP, and other major events. That said, the competitive field continues to grow and evolve as more high-level athletes enter the sport, so any specific claim about current rankings should be verified against up-to-date sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I check current pickleball player rankings?

The PPA Tour and MLP both publish current rankings and standings based on that season's results, and DUPR's website maintains current skill ratings for registered players. These are the most reliable sources for up-to-date ranking information.

Is DUPR the same as PPA Tour or MLP rankings?

No — DUPR is a skill rating system used broadly across recreational, competitive, and professional play, while the PPA Tour and MLP maintain their own separate rankings and standings based specifically on results within their own competitions. A player can have a high DUPR rating without necessarily being the top-ranked player on the PPA Tour, and vice versa.

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