Ben Johns Bio
Benjamin Ellingham Johns is an American professional pickleball player widely regarded as one of the most dominant competitors in the modern era of the sport. As of April 2026, he holds the No. 1 ranking in mixed doubles and men’s doubles and ranks No. 13 in singles by the Pro Pickleball Association. He began competing professionally in 2016 and has since built a reputation for consistent excellence across singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. His aggressive, technically refined style and tactical intelligence have set him apart from his peers.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Ellingham Johns was born on March 18, 1999, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and was raised in nearby Laytonsville. He grew up in a sports-oriented household, which nurtured his early interest in athletics. He was homeschooled during his childhood, an arrangement that allowed him the flexibility to train extensively in multiple racket sports from a young age. He later enrolled at the University of Maryland, where he graduated with a degree in materials science and engineering.
Johns developed his foundational athletic skills through tennis and table tennis, showing strong proficiency in both disciplines. He also helped his older brother, Collin Johns, train for the pro tennis circuit, sharpening his own hand-eye coordination and competitive instincts in the process. These formative experiences in related racket sports built the speed, touch, and strategic thinking that would later translate to pickleball.
Path to Pickleball
Johns was first introduced to pickleball in 2016 at the age of 17 while vacationing in Florida. Within months of that first exposure, he entered the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships and finished fifth in Men’s Pro Singles, a remarkable result for a newcomer. The strong showing convinced him to pursue pickleball seriously, and he began entering tournaments on a consistent basis.
Less than a year after his U.S. Open debut, he captured his first gold medal at the Riverbend RV Resort Pickleball Tournament. He returned to the U.S. Open later that year and won gold in Men’s Pro Singles, establishing himself as a rising force in the professional game. He capped the year by winning three gold medals at the Canadian Nationals, which propelled him to the forefront of the sport.
Ben Johns Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
Johns turned professional in 2016, transitioning to pickleball after years of competitive tennis and table tennis. His earliest major result was the fifth-place finish in Men’s Pro Singles at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. He quickly built momentum with his first gold medal at the Riverbend RV Resort Pickleball Tournament and followed it with a U.S. Open Men’s Pro Singles title later in 2016.
By the end of 2016, Johns had added three gold medals from the Canadian Nationals, signaling his arrival as a serious title contender. His rapid rise from newcomer to champion within a single calendar year established the foundation for what would become a record-setting professional career.
PPA Tour Breakthrough (2019-2022)
In 2019, Johns became the first male professional player to win a triple crown, taking gold in singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles at a single major event, the Tournament of Champions in Brigham City, Utah. That same year, he launched a 108-match winning streak in singles and went undefeated in mixed doubles across 22 consecutive tournaments. His dominance on the PPA Tour during this stretch cemented his reputation as the sport’s premier all-around player.
Johns repeated the triple crown feat at the U.S. Open in 2021 and again in 2022, becoming the first male player to achieve the milestone at multiple majors. By 2022, he had accumulated over 80 career titles on the PPA Tour, 15 of which were triple crowns. His sustained excellence across three disciplines set a new standard for versatility in professional pickleball.
Continued Dominance (2023-2025)
Johns has continued to post elite results on the PPA Tour through 2024 and 2025, regularly contending in men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles. In 2025, he paired with Gabriel Tardio in men’s doubles, reaching championship Sunday at every event they entered as a fixed partnership through the Bristol Open in August 2025, losing only twice to finish with silver. His ongoing partnership with Anna Leigh Waters in mixed doubles remained equally productive through the same stretch.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johns plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand and combines power from the baseline with finesse at the kitchen line. His track-type strengths include patient point construction on slower outdoor courts and aggressive drives on faster indoor surfaces. His tactical skills, court coverage, and ability to adapt to different partners have made him a consistent threat across singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johns’ signature achievements include the 2019 Tournament of Champions triple crown, the U.S. Open triple crowns in 2021 and 2022, and a 108-match singles winning streak in 2019. He was also the first male player to record 15 triple crowns on the PPA Tour. In October 2021, he appeared alongside his brother Collin on Live with Kelly and Ryan, playing a pickleball match outside the show’s New York City studio.
Ben Johns Career Wins
Benjamin Ellingham Johns has accumulated over 80 career titles on the PPA Tour across singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Of those, 15 are triple crowns earned by winning all three events at a major tournament in a single year. His win total and his undefeated stretches in singles and mixed doubles place him among the most decorated players in pickleball history.
PPA Tour Highlights
Johns’ first PPA Tour title came at the Riverbend RV Resort Pickleball Tournament, less than a year after he first played the sport. His most recent major triple crowns include the U.S. Open wins in 2021 and 2022. He has remained a fixture on championship Sunday at PPA Tour events through 2025, with his men’s doubles partnership with Gabriel Tardio producing championship appearances at every event they entered together as a fixed duo through the Bristol Open.
Other Wins and Performances
Johns added three gold medals at the Canadian Nationals during his rookie 2016 season, signaling his international reach early in his career. He has also recorded tournament victories across mixed doubles with multiple partners, including his long-running pairing with Anna Leigh Waters.
Ben Johns Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Johns’ elder brother, Collin Johns, is also a highly ranked professional pickleball player and was Benjamin’s former doubles partner. The two grew up training together in Maryland, with Benjamin helping Collin prepare for the pro tennis circuit during their youth.
Personal Life
Benjamin Ellingham Johns currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida. His brother Collin remains an active presence in his professional pickleball career, having served as both a doubles partner and a frequent training partner.
2025 Season Performance
Benjamin Ellingham Johns’ 2025 season has been defined by a productive new men’s doubles partnership with Gabriel Tardio on the PPA Tour. Through the Bristol Open in August 2025, Johns and Tardio reached championship Sunday in every event they entered together as a fixed pairing, losing only twice to finish with silver. That consistency pushed Tardio into the No. 2 seed in the PPA men’s doubles bracket, and kept Johns firmly in title contention across multiple stops.
Johns’ mixed doubles partnership with Anna Leigh Waters remained comparably productive through the same stretch, reinforcing his No. 1 ranking in mixed doubles by the Pro Pickleball Association. His continued ability to compete at the top level in three disciplines underscored his role as one of the sport’s most versatile and durable competitors.
