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The best points we saw in 2025
Focus on process, not wins & losses
Each year the level of play in pro pickleball gets higher and higher. The offense gets faster, which forces the defense to get better, which over time leads to more crazy highlight-reel points.
We've gone back through our archives from this year to find the Top 5 points at the pro level. With so many great matches and great points to choose from, we're sure we left out some deserving highlights. And we're sorry about that, but we wanted to keep it to the best of the best. Find our Top 5 below.
Also in this issue:
Why Genie Bouchard is happier on the pickleball court 🎧
JOOLA show goes behind the scenes at Pickleball World Championships 📺
Take a Pickleball Trip to New Zealand ✈️
Stay organized with these UDrippin Grip Cases 👝
Focus on process, not wins & losses 🧠
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑🍳
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
The best pro pickleball points we saw in 2025
NO. 1: WHY WE LOVE WOMEN'S DOUBLES
It should come as a surprise to nobody that our Point of the Year involves Anna Leigh Waters doing Anna Leigh Waters things. This women's doubles match from the Cape Coral Open in early March between Waters/Catherine Parenteau (before they split) and Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher, reminds us why women's doubles is arguably the most entertaining division. There are firefights, lobs, incredible defensive gets ... and to make it even better, it was a Game Point in a very tight match. Watch here.
NO. 2: MEN'S SINGLES AT ITS BEST
2025 was the year Christian Alshon broke through to win his first-ever PPA Tour singles title -- and he won three of them by the time the year was all said and done. This point from the Red Rock Open in late March was a great example of Alshon's rise (even though he ultimately lost this match to Connor Garnett) and how great men's singles can be at its highest level. Watch here.
NO. 3: AN EPIC POINT DURING AN EPIC UPSET
Just when it looked like Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright were going to cruise to title after title after they teamed up in the spring, Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black pulled off a huge upset at the PPA Tour Walgreens Open in Las Vegas in late August. And they did it in convincing fashion, winning 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, thanks in part to points like this one.
🔗 Check out the rest of the Top 5 points of the year here and find more highlights on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
Why Genie Bouchard is happier on the pickleball court
In case you missed it last week, tennis star turned pickleball pro Genie Bouchard joined Pickleballers for an episode focused on her transition to the pickleball court over the past two years.
The former Wimbledon finalist breaks down why she signed with the PPA, what it was like starting 0–9 in her first few tournaments, dealing with expectations and noise from the outside, and how she’s gone from “tennis star trying pickleball” to a legit threat making finals and beating top players.
She also talks about whether Coco Gauff could be a top pickleball player, paddle switches and why this new chapter has brought her more happiness and stability than tennis ever allowed.
FEATURED STORY
JOOLA's ‘Two Zeroes and a Pro’ crew goes behind the scenes at PPA World Championships
After providing behind-the-scenes coverage of several PPA Tour Challenger events in 2025, JOOLA's "Two Zeroes and a Pro" video crew made the jump from the minor leagues to the major leagues this fall, experiencing pickleball on its biggest stage at the PPA Tour World Championships in Dallas in November.
With more than 60,000 fans in attendance, Dallas became the place to be for pickleball, and the Two Zeroes crew -- Corey, Isang and JOOLA pickleball pro and trainer Josh Jenkins -- captured it all, from pro matches to events on Pickleball Boulevard to the finals of the Challenger Series.
In addition to showcasing new talent and delivering grassroots coverage of the inaugural PPA Challenger season, the show's two "pickleball newbs" -- Corey and Isang -- shared what they learned about the sport along the way in the final episode, which was released last week.
"We made new friends, learned what terms like 'stacking' and 'back draw' really mean, embraced the vagabond pickleball lifestyle, and witnessed firsthand the dedication and sacrifice required to chase the dream of becoming a PPA Tour professional," they said.
INSTRUCTION
How focusing on your win/loss record is hurting your game
Every pickleball player uses metrics when they play as a way of measuring performance.
Even the score is just a metric: How many points you have compared to your opponent. In a recent article we tackle one of the most common and damaging metrics players use: the win/loss metric.
This next statement usually perplexes players at first: You cannot go out there to win a game. Think about it for a moment. What does “I am going to win the game” even mean? What are your action items that flow from “I will win the game?” The answer is that there are no action items. Winning is not something you can directly do. Rather, winning is something that happens. It is a result.
Let’s contrast winning with some things you can do – areas that you have control over:
You can aim your serves and returns of serve high over the net, reducing net errors.
You can aim your returns of serve deep in the court, maximizing your positional advantage at the start of each rally.
You can pick a spot on the court you want to aim your shots toward, potentially exploiting a weakness in your opponents’ formation.
You can identify your opponents’ strengths (like a strong backhand putaway volley), allowing you to avoid hitting too many shots there.
Each of the above is within your control. Broadening this concept, you have control over the shots you hit and the strategies you choose during a game. The sum of these decisions and how well you execute them over the course of the contest will yield a result: you will win that game or you will lose that game.
PICKLEBALL TRIPS
Take a pickleball vacation to New Zealand
This March you can travel with the Pickleball Trips team across the north Island of New Zealand on a one-of-a-kind pickleball/sightseeing excursion.
Destinations will include the serene Waiheke Island, known for its plethora of local wineries, the beautiful Lake Taupo with its classic Kiwi adventures, and ‘Hobbiton’, home of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
In between, travelers will encounter the breathtaking natural beauty of New Zealand as the group stops for various hikes and other local experiences. But of course, no Pickleball Trip would be complete without your go-to paddle, as the group will be playing recreationally with clubs in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington.
Use code "Kitchen" to receive a $200 discount per person, per trip.
GEAR
Keep your accessories organized with this UDrippin Grip Case
UDrippin Grip Cases are the ultimate accessory for keeping your gear organized and protected. Available in three colors — Black, Black with Elephant Print, and Bone White — these cases combine functionality and premium design. Crafted from high-quality PU leather with a water-resistant zipper, the case features two large interior pockets for essentials like phones, keys, and small accessories, along with a dedicated grip pocket made from durable double-wall mesh for easy visibility and added strength.
Included with the case are mini UDRIPPIN scissors and a 3-pack of grips. It’s the perfect companion for any player on the go.
QUICK HITS
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