One thing I am always looking for are players new to PPA that have potential to move up the rankings quickly. New talent joins the PPA Tour constantly, and by and large struggle to break through. It is not easy to be new to the tour and get good results quickly. Partners matter and seeding matters. To get better seeding, you need to win; to win, you need better partners. The difficulty is that it is a circular problem; to win, you need better partners, but to get better partners you need to win.

 

This is why players often break out first in singles. No partner needed for singles, and if you are coming over from tennis, your tennis game will translate best initially to singles. Tennis players are not used to volleying all the time, and they are really not used to firefights, dinking, and the soft game.

 

When I watch for new players on tour, I mainly watch singles, as that is where you are most likely to spot new talent. But when watching singles, I am looking for players who have a game that can translate to doubles. A perfect example is Noe Khlif. I first saw Khlif play at Desert Ridge in early 2024. He played Tyson McGuffin and gave him all he could handle. Khlif did it with power AND touch, something generally not seen in new players at singles. I immediately told Khlif he had game and correctly predicted he would soon be a top 20 doubles player.

 

Currently, there are two players I have been watching, one man and one woman.

Let’s begin with Zane Ford (current doubles rank #84). He has been known more for his singles game, but he has doubles shots incorporated in his doubles game. He hits with a lot of topspin, and most importantly, he can hit shots with power or touch, depending on the circumstances. He is starting to get better results, but needs a breakthrough win. Often, it is a signature win that gets you better doubles partners.

 

 

Ford played men’s doubles with Gabe Joseph at Mesa. They lost to Collin Johns and AJ Koller, but only after they had five match points. Ford was the best player on the court. He needs to volley and dink better, as is so often true for long time tennis players coming over to pickleball. But, he understand the game is not all about power, so the potential is there.

 

On the women’s side, my pick is Victoria DiMuzio (current rank #118). DiMuzio is another tennis convert, although she is a much more recent addition than Ford to the PPA Tour. My first look at her was in practice sessions for Mesa and then the tournament itself. She has great power, with an excellent drive. She needs to work on everything pickleball; dinks, drops, crosscourt rolls, counters, resets, speedups, etc. But, her raw tools are there. As long as she puts in the work, DiMuzio can be a top 25 player in a year.

 

 

New talent is constantly joining the PPA Tour. It is a fun and exciting assignment to find breakout players. Take a look at Ford and DiMuzio and see what you think.

 

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