Pickleball: Year In Review 2021

What a year it has been. Where do we even start? The last twelve months came with a lot of ups and downs, but for the team at JustPaddles there was a shining star. And that shining star is pickleball! From a massive increase in player participation all across the nation to new professional organizations, and everything else in between, pickleball permanently stamped its presence on the map. To help reminisce, our Paddle Experts have compiled a list of some of the best stories of 2021. Let's dive in.

Major League Pickleball makes its debut. 

Showcasing top players and a unique format, Major League Pickleball (MLP) offers a team-oriented approach to a once individual sport. With a full schedule set for ‘22, we have no doubt that MLP will continue to gain popularity. 

PPA Tour Hyundai Master’s Championships shines

Top-notch hospitality, an incredible venue, and the best players in the world all came together to put on one of the best events of 2021. See who won and read our recap here. 

USA Pickleball’s Margaritaville National Championships

The desert played host to one of the most deluxe pickleball tournaments of the year. With headline-making stories, including a brother/sister and a mother/daughter Champions, the Nationals was a tournament to remember. See who won and read our recap here. 

Ben Johns dominates men’s singles

Ben Johns continued his dominance in men’s singles, extending the rankings gap between him and McGuffin on the PPA Tour. Will McGuffin, Navratil, Johnson, or a new up and comer be able to dethrone the King in ‘22? 

Anna Leigh Waters shows unlimited potential

Waters’ second half of the season was second to none. With back-to-back Women’s Pro singles championships at the Masters, then shortly after the USA Pickleball Nationals, Waters is on fire with no signs of slowing down. Will she dominate the entire ‘22 season? 

US Open of Pickleball sells out in record time 

Selling out faster than anyone could have ever imagined, the US Open of Pickleball continues to grow at a rapid pace. With players and vendors coming in from every corner of the globe to play, it truly is one of the most elite events in the game. What new additions will be added to differentiate themselves from the strides the MLP and PPA Tour are making at their events? 

McGuffin claims winner’s circle as ‘second home’ 

With too many titles to name, Selkirk’s Tyson McGuffin seemed to find his way into the winner’s circle in what felt like every event he entered, including wrapping the year with victories in men’s pro singles and men’s pro doubles at the USA Pickleball National Championships. What off-season training tools will Tyson implement to dethrone the Ben Johns train next season? 

Simone Jardim and Lucy Kovalova battle in matches and rankings all season long

A battle for the top between Kovalova and Jardim was one of the coolest stories in pickleball. Jardim took the top spot in Women’s Doubles, followed by Kovalova, but Lucy ousted Jardim in Mixed Doubles. With news Jardim will hang up her paddle and retire before the ‘22 season, we are left with so many questions of what could have been between these two great pickleball warriors! 

Matt Wright lands atop the PPA Tour Mixed Pro Doubles Rankings 

Wright had one heck of a season, cementing himself as the best mixed doubles professional on the PPA Tour, an accomplishment that might land him in the conversation of one of the Pro Mixed GOATS. Will he remain in the number one spot as we move into ‘22? 

JustPaddles Launches To Help Grow The Game Of Pickleball 

Last, but certainly not least, was the launch of JustPaddles in February of 2021. From the same team that brought you JustBats and JustGloves, we've taken our passion into pickleball. With hundreds of pickleball paddles to choose from, Paddle Experts at your disposal, and fast, free shipping on every order, we truly are here for you from Click To Court. We can't wait to serve you in 2022 and are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for pickleball!

--

Looking for the perfect pickleball paddle? There are hundreds of paddles on the market, which is why we have an entire page dedicated to Pickleball Paddle Reviews! If you need more information, give us a call at 1-866-382-3465, email us (experts@justpaddles.com), or utilize our LIVE CHAT to speak with a Paddle Expert today. We’re JustPaddles, and we’re with you from Click to Court!