Dylan Frazier No. 1 in Men’s Doubles: Dylan Frazier’s entry into the world of pickleball was as unassuming as most initial encounters with a new hobby. At just 23 years old, Frazier has already established himself as a strong force in the sport, climbing from his teenage beginnings to the summit of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour. His recent success at the PPA Orange County Cup, alongside partner JW Johnson, catapulted him to the top of the men’s doubles rankings—a statement to his relentless drive and dedication.
Hailing from the small town of Ashland, Missouri, Dylan’s passion for pickleball ignited during a family trip to Florida. “We were visiting my grandparents in Punta Gorda, Florida. We needed something to do one afternoon so my mom took my dad and I to a recreation center,” Dylan recalled. The sport captivated him instantly, and upon returning home, he honed his skills with the Show-Me Pickleball Club in Columbia.
Unlike many of his peers on the tour, Frazier’s background is not steeped in tennis. “I now play on the PPA tour. And so, I started playing in those tours, my first one was actually in Punta Gorda so that was kind of a full circle moment,” he noted. His rise through the ranks has been marked by dedication and strategic prowess, and he now stands as the 6th ranked player in men’s singles.
Rising Through the Ranks: A Journey of Dedication
Yet, Frazier’s most notable achievement is his partnership with JW Johnson. Together, they have ascended to become the top-ranked men’s doubles team in the PPA, with Frazier himself holding the distinction of being the top men’s player in doubles. Their journey to the pinnacle of the sport was not without its challenges. Entering 2024 in the 2nd spot behind Ben and Colin Johns due to a limited tournament schedule, Frazier and Johnson faced high expectations.
“We had a stretch of tournaments where we got three golds in a row, then a silver, and maybe another gold,” Dylan said, reflecting on their recent successes. When Ben and Colin Johns faltered early in the Select Medical Orange County Cup, the opportunity was there for Frazier and Johnson. “I had all the calculations done. I knew going into the gold medal match that we had to win to become the number one team, so it was a little added pressure going into that gold medal match, but also a little extra motivation and we ended up winning,” Dylan explained.
Balancing Act: Professional Success and Academic Ambitions
In addition to his athletic achievements, Frazier is juggling the demands of academia as he pursues a degree in Business Administration at the University of Missouri. “Balancing that with a full semester of classes was very difficult, especially when I was going in person. Now I switched to online, and the schedule got even more hectic. Now we’re on the road 32 weeks out of the year,” Dylan said. He anticipates earning his degree in 2025, but for now, his focus remains on defending his top ranking at the Selkirk Kansas City Open on August 7th.
“Now there’s the pressure of defending the number one spot onto the number one spot. There’s a lot of tournaments to be played and some incentives to continue to perform well and hold on to the number one spot. So, I may be even more motivated and there’s more pressure to hold on to the number one spot,” Dylan remarked.
New in Brief: Dylan Frazier No. 1 in Men’s Doubles
At just 23, Dylan Frazier has risen to the top of pickleball’s men’s doubles rankings. Starting the sport at 13, Frazier’s recent victory at the PPA Orange County Cup with partner JW Johnson secured their place as the No. 1 men’s doubles team. Notably, Frazier is one of the few top professionals without a tennis background. Balancing his professional career with a Business Administration degree at the University of Missouri, Frazier remains focused on defending his title at the Selkirk Kansas City Open. “There’s a lot of pressure to maintain the top spot,” he says.
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