“How old is Anna Leigh Waters?” “How old is Ben Johns?” Pro pickleball is one of the few sports where a teenager can beat a former college tennis star and a 30-something can still be at the top of the rankings. Here is a quick reference for the ages of the sport’s best-known players, with birthdays where they are on record.
Ages below are calculated as of October 15, 2026. Where we only have the age from a player’s PPA Tour profile, we say so rather than guess a birthday.
Ages of the top pro pickleball players
| Player | Birthday | Age (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Leigh Waters | January 26, 2007 | 19 |
| Hayden Patriquin | September 20, 2005 (commonly listed) | 21 |
| Ben Johns | March 18, 1999 | 27 |
| Anna Bright | October 8, 1999 | 27 |
| Catherine Parenteau | August 26, 1994 | 32 |
| Gabe Tardio | Not published | 20 (per PPA Tour profile) |
| Christopher Haworth | Not published | 33 (per PPA Tour profile) |
| Kate Fahey | Not published | 29 (per PPA Tour profile, late 2025) |
The last three rows come from PPA Tour athlete profiles, which can lag a birthday, so treat them as “about” ages.
How old is Anna Leigh Waters?
Anna Leigh Waters was born on January 26, 2007, in Delray Beach, Florida, so she is 19. She turned pro at 12, which is why her age keeps surprising people: she has been competing against adults for most of her playing life. Her full story is on her profile page.
How old is Ben Johns?
Ben Johns was born on March 18, 1999, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, making him 27. He picked up pickleball at 17 on a family vacation in Florida. More in our Ben Johns profile.
How old is Anna Bright?
Anna Bright was born on October 8, 1999, so she just turned 27. She played college tennis at UC Berkeley before turning pro in pickleball in 2022. See the Anna Bright profile.
How old is Hayden Patriquin?
Hayden Patriquin is commonly listed with a September 20, 2005 birthdate, which makes him 21 as of October 2026. He turned pro in 2022. Our Hayden Patriquin profile has the rest.
How old is Catherine Parenteau?
Catherine Parenteau was born on August 26, 1994, in Montreal, and is 32. Like many of the sport’s top women, she came to pickleball from competitive tennis. Read more on her profile.
How old is Gabe Tardio?
Gabe Tardio’s PPA Tour profile lists him at 20. He is from Bolivia and lives in Jupiter, Florida. We have not found a published birthday, so we don’t state one. Details are on the Gabe Tardio page.
Do pro pickleball players peak young?
The list above is the answer: no single age. The very top of the sport spans a 19-year-old and a 32-year-old, and most of these players spent years in tennis or other sports first. Pickleball rewards touch, patience and court craft, so the learning curve is gentler than in many sports, and you can keep improving long after your twenties. If you want to see where you stand, try our free DUPR calculator or read how to become a pro pickleball player.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the youngest pro pickleball player?
Among the players covered here, Anna Leigh Waters is the youngest at 19. She turned pro at 12.
Who is the oldest of the top pickleball pros on this list?
Of the players listed here, Christopher Haworth, at 33 per his PPA Tour profile, is the oldest, followed by Catherine Parenteau at 32.
Are these ages up to date?
They are calculated as of October 15, 2026 from the birthdays listed. Players marked “per PPA Tour profile” use the age the Tour publishes.
Play where the pros started: on a court
You don’t need to be 19 or a former tennis pro to enjoy pickleball. Pickleland’s indoor courts in Pflugerville are open to every level. See open play or become a member.