Daniel De La Rosa Bio
Daniel De La Rosa (born July 4, 1993) is a Mexican-born American professional racquetball and pickleball player. He is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in both Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles, having captured both titles in 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, where he also helped the United States win the Men’s Team title. De La Rosa has won twelve times on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), including the 2021 United States Open, and is the first Mexican player ever to win that event. After securing three consecutive IRT year-end No. 1 rankings, he transitioned to focus on professional pickleball while still competing at the highest level of racquetball on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Daniel De La Rosa was born on July 4, 1993, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and grew up in a region with a strong tradition of racquet sports. He was introduced to racquetball at a young age and quickly rose through the junior ranks in Mexico, representing his country at the International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships from 2007 through 2011. Although he never won a World Junior singles title, he regularly reached the latter stages of these events, often finishing as runner-up or semi-finalist against future top professionals.
During his junior career, De La Rosa partnered with fellow Mexican player Missael Leija in doubles, and the pair consistently challenged for medals at the World Junior Championships. He competed across Boys’ U14, U16, and U18 divisions, gaining valuable experience against rivals such as Carlos Keller of Bolivia, Marco Rojas of the United States, and Canada’s Samuel Murray. These formative years laid the foundation for his smooth transition into senior international competition by the time he was seventeen.
Path to Professional Racquetball
De La Rosa made his senior international debut for Mexico at the 2011 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Managua, Nicaragua, where he won the Men’s Singles gold medal at just seventeen years old. He defeated a series of seasoned competitors, including a notable quarterfinal win over Bolivia’s Carlos Keller, before edging American Chris Crowther in a dramatic five-game final. That breakthrough victory established him as one of Mexico’s most promising young talents.
The following years saw De La Rosa steadily climb the professional ranks, balancing international events for Mexico with increasing involvement on the International Racquetball Tour. By the 2013–14 IRT season, he reached his first professional final at an event in Davison, Michigan, marking the first all-Mexican final in IRT history. He won his first IRT title in December 2014 at the New Jersey Open, defeating countryman Álvaro Beltrán in the final and signaling his arrival as a top-tier touring professional.
Daniel De La Rosa Career
Early Career (2012–2019)
De La Rosa played half of the 2012–13 IRT season and immediately finished inside the top ten, beginning a streak of top-ten season finishes that has now stretched across nine campaigns. He became only the third Mexican player to reach the IRT top ten, following in the footsteps of Álvaro Beltrán and Javier Moreno. Over the next several seasons, he collected additional IRT titles, including wins at the Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the LA Open in Canoga Park, California, while also reaching finals at major events like the United States Open.
Alongside his IRT schedule, De La Rosa was a key contributor for Mexico at multi-sport competitions. He earned a silver medal in Men’s Singles at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, and helped Mexico capture gold in the Men’s Team event. In 2015, he added a bronze medal in Men’s Singles and a team gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto, while also winning Men’s Singles at the 2016 Pan American Racquetball Championships on home soil in San Luis Potosí.
International Racquetball Tour Breakthrough (2019–2023)
De La Rosa’s career reached new heights during the 2020–21 IRT season, when he won three consecutive tournaments, including the prestigious 2021 United States Open in Minneapolis. The run began in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, continued with a victory at the Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, and culminated with his US Open title, where he defeated Bolivia’s Carlos Keller in the final. Those results, combined with earlier wins, helped him finish the season as the IRT’s No. 1-ranked player for the first time in his career.
He held the No. 1 ranking through 2022 and into 2023, winning multiple IRT titles each season and continuing to feature in finals around the world. In 2023, De La Rosa made the significant decision to switch his international allegiance from Mexico to the United States. He won the 2023 USA Racquetball National Singles Championship and the National Doubles title with Alejandro Landa, qualifying to represent the United States at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he helped the U.S. team earn a bronze medal.
World Championship and Team USA Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, De La Rosa enjoyed one of the most successful stretches of his career at the IRF World Championships in his adopted hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He captured gold medals in both Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles, and was part of the U.S. team that won the Men’s Team title, cementing his status as the world’s top racquetball player. These triumphs added to an already impressive international résumé that includes multiple Pan American titles and medals at the Pan American Games.
At the same time, De La Rosa has increasingly devoted his competitive energy to professional pickleball. He signed a three-year exclusive contract with the Professional Pickleball Association in July 2024, while continuing to represent the United States in international racquetball competitions. His ability to compete at an elite level in both sports remains one of the most distinctive storylines in modern racquet sports.
Driving Style and Strengths
De La Rosa is known for his composure in high-pressure matches, his precise shot placement, and his exceptional fitness, which allows him to compete deep into tournaments across both racquetball and pickleball. His patience and tactical intelligence have made him particularly effective in long matches, where he often outlasts opponents in five-game battles. On the IRT, his balanced game has helped him earn a reputation as one of the most consistent performers of his generation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, De La Rosa points to his 2021 United States Open title as a defining moment, when he became the first Mexican player ever to win that tournament. His 2024 triple gold medal performance at the IRF World Championships in San Antonio further cemented his legacy on the international stage. He has also reached the milestone of twelve career IRT titles and three consecutive IRT year-end No. 1 finishes between 2021 and 2023.
Daniel De La Rosa Career Wins
Daniel De La Rosa has compiled twelve career wins on the International Racquetball Tour, along with multiple international medals for both Mexico and the United States. His victories span regular IRT stops, major championships, and elite international events, with his first title coming at the 2014 New Jersey Open. He has also captured Major League Pickleball titles and continues to add to his trophy collection on both tours.
IRT and US Open Highlights
De La Rosa’s most celebrated IRT moment came at the 2021 United States Open in Minneapolis, where he defeated Carlos Keller in the final to become the first Mexican-born player to win the event. Earlier that same season, he posted back-to-back tournament wins in Highlands Ranch and Lombard, Illinois, setting the stage for his US Open triumph. He later added IRT titles in 2022 and 2023, finishing each of those seasons as the IRT’s No. 1-ranked player.
Outside the US Open, De La Rosa has won IRT events such as the New Jersey Open, the Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, and the LA Open in Canoga Park. He has also reached a total of thirty-one IRT finals across more than one hundred tournaments, underscoring his remarkable consistency at the top level of professional racquetball.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his IRT titles, De La Rosa has won international medals at the Pan American Racquetball Championships, the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Pan American Games, and the IRF World Championships. In professional pickleball, he has won two Major League Pickleball titles, including the 2023 MLP San Clemente event and the 2024 Advil Targeted Relief MLP Mid-Season Tournament. He has also won the 2023 USA Racquetball National Singles and Doubles Championships.
Daniel De La Rosa Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Daniel De La Rosa was raised in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in a family environment that supported his early involvement in racquetball and competitive sports. While specific details about his parents are not widely publicized, his upbringing in San Luis Potosí placed him near a strong local racquetball community that helped shape his early development. His transition into senior international competition at seventeen reflected both his personal talent and the strong sporting infrastructure of his hometown.
Personal Life
De La Rosa was previously married to fellow professional racquetball player Michelle De La Rosa, who competed on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour and represented the United States in international events. Together they have two children. He is currently in a relationship with Hollie Scott, who is also a professional racquetball player. De La Rosa resides in San Antonio, Texas, and is sponsored by Pro Kennex.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Daniel De La Rosa continues to balance his commitments between professional pickleball and international racquetball, fresh off a historic 2024 World Championship triple in San Antonio. His exclusive PPA contract keeps him active on the Major League Pickleball circuit, where he is expected to compete for the Brooklyn Aces and pursue additional MLP titles. Meanwhile, his standing as the reigning IRF World Champion ensures he will remain a central figure in United States racquetball team selections throughout the year.
On the racquetball side, De La Rosa will look to defend his World Championship titles and add to his twelve career IRT wins, while continuing to chase more major titles on the international calendar. His experience and recent form make him a strong contender to extend his legacy with the United States program following his switch from Mexico in 2023. With a packed schedule across two sports, he is positioned to remain one of the most watched dual-sport athletes in the racquet world.
