Jocelyn Devilliers Player Profile
Jocelyn "Jay" Devilliers, known as the "Flying Frenchman," is a French-born former college tennis player who became one of the top professional pickleball players in the world. This profile covers the verified highlights; rankings change often, so check the PPA Tour site for his current standing.
Early Life And Tennis
Devilliers was born in December 1994 in Rosny-sous-Bois, France. He grew up playing several sports, including soccer and tennis, and moved to Barcelona, Spain, in 2009 to train in tennis. A serious injury ended his hopes of a professional tennis career, and he accepted a college tennis scholarship in the United States, joining the Wichita State University men's team in 2013.
Discovering Pickleball
Devilliers began competing in pickleball as a hobby around 2020, after noticing its similarities to tennis and that it was easier on his body. He took a job as a pickleball director at a Wichita club and has said he had to learn the game for the role. He turned pro in 2020.
Pro Career Highlights
- Has won multiple PPA Tour medals across singles, doubles and mixed doubles since 2020.
- Won the men's singles title at the 2021 PPA Championship, according to Wikipedia.
- His highest PPA rankings were reported as No. 2 in men's singles, No. 3 in men's doubles and No. 2 in mixed doubles. A mid-2023 snapshot had him ranked No. 4 in singles, No. 7 in doubles and No. 9 in mixed. Rankings change frequently.
Playing Style
Devilliers is known as a fiery, energetic and exciting player to watch, and is one of the more popular players on tour.
Conclusion
Jay Devilliers' move from college tennis to the top of professional pickleball is one of the sport's best-known crossover stories.