Christopher Haworth: Inside the Rise of Pickleball’s New World No. 1

A few years ago, almost nobody outside Oklahoma City had heard of Haworth. Today, he’s the man Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud have to get through. Haworth’s climb from burned-out tennis pro to PPA world No. 1 in men’s singles is one of the fastest rises pickleball has seen — and it’s still going.

If you’ve searched “Christopher Haworth pickleball,” “Christopher Haworth net worth,” or “Chris Haworth wife,” you’ve probably landed on pages that repeat the same three facts and call it a profile. This one goes further: verified stats, his actual equipment setup, his personal life (correcting a common misconception), and where his career is headed next.

Quick Facts: Christopher Haworth at a Glance

From Burned-Out Tennis Pro to Pickleball’s Hottest Prospect

Haworth’s story doesn’t start with pickleball — it starts with tennis. He was a three-time state champion and All-American in high school, good enough to earn a Division I tennis scholarship and later attempt the professional ITF circuit. But the grind of minor-league tennis — endless travel, thin prize money, losing more than winning — wore him down. By 2018, Haworth walked away from competitive tennis and settled into life as a tennis director near Oklahoma City.

That would’ve been the end of the story, except a client at his academy wouldn’t stop bugging him to try pickleball. He finally did, over Thanksgiving break in 2022. “I kind of got hooked that first time,” Haworth has said, and within months, casual court time turned into daily obsession.

The turning point came fast. In his first-ever professional pickleball tournament, Haworth took a set off Ben Johns — the sport’s reigning GOAT. A few months later, in November 2023, he beat Johns outright and medaled at US Nationals. That result told him something most rookies never get to hear: he belonged.

The Meteoric Rise: 2024 to 2026

What happened next is rare even by pickleball’s fast-moving standards. Over the following 12 months, Haworth won nine gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze across the APP and PPA tours. He joined the MLP California Black Bears for team competition, signed with Babolat as their first-ever pickleball athlete, and built a rivalry with the sport’s top names.

• 2023 — Turned pro; four APP Tour singles medals (three silver, one bronze); upset win over Ben Johns
• 2024 — Signed with Babolat; gold at the San Clemente Orange County Cup; nine gold medals across tours; joined MLP’s California Black Bears
• 2025 — Joined the PPA Tour full-time; gold at the APP Sacramento Open, defeating Mariano Yeh
• 2026 — Reached PPA World No. 1 in men’s singles in April, going undefeated through six matches at the PPA Greater Zion Cup without dropping a single game

As of the most recent PickleWave ELO rankings, Haworth sits at No. 1 in men’s singles, ahead of Federico Staksrud. Only four players in PPA history have ever held that top spot — Ben Johns, Federico Staksrud, Hunter Johnson, and now Haworth.

Christopher Haworth’s Playing Style

What makes Haworth so hard to beat isn’t just athleticism — it’s timing and adaptability. A few things scouts and commentators consistently point to:

• Reach and court coverage — At 6’4″, his wingspan closes gaps other singles players can’t
• Baseline patience — His tennis background shows up in long, controlled rallies rather than forced errors
• Adapted to the new ball — Haworth has credited the Life Time LT Pro 48 pickleball for suiting his groundstroke-heavy game better than the older ball favored quick net play
• Doubles improvement — Once considered a singles specialist, he’s actively building chemistry in men’s and mixed doubles

Christopher Haworth Paddle: What’s in His Kitchen

If you’ve searched “Christopher Haworth pickleball paddle,” here’s the direct answer: he plays with the Babolat STRKR+, a 13mm paddle built for aggressive, offense-first players. A few specifics:

Haworth became Babolat’s first-ever signed pickleball athlete in April 2024, receiving a full head-to-toe sponsorship — paddle, apparel, and footwear. Before that deal, Babolat had zero presence in professional pickleball; his signing effectively launched the brand’s entry into the sport.

Christopher Haworth’s Wife — Actually, His Husband

A lot of search traffic around “Chris Haworth wife” is based on a wrong assumption. Haworth doesn’t have a wife — he’s married to his husband, Jackie, who regularly travels with him on tour. Haworth has spoken openly about being one of the most visible openly gay men in professional pickleball, and about wanting that fact to feel unremarkable within the sport.

Beyond his marriage, Haworth stays close to his Oklahoma roots. He was raised in Oklahoma City by parents Claudia and Rick, alongside his older sister Courtney, a former high-level softball player. He still resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, and trains locally when he’s off tour.

Christopher Haworth Net Worth: What’s Actually Known

There’s no audited or league-published net worth figure for Haworth, and any specific dollar amount you see online is an unverified estimate — treat it with caution. What is publicly documented are his income sources:

• PPA and APP tour prize money — accumulated from 11+ gold medals, six silvers, and five bronzes since turning pro
• Babolat sponsorship — a full “total look” endorsement deal covering paddle, apparel, and shoes, signed in April 2024
• MLP team salary — from his time competing with the California Black Bears
• Prior income — years spent as a tennis director/coach in Oklahoma City before turning pro

As for lifestyle assets like cars or property: there is no credible, sourced reporting confirming specific vehicles, real estate, or luxury purchases tied to Haworth. Unlike NBA or NFL athletes with well-documented endorsement portfolios, pickleball’s earnings — even at the very top — are modest compared to major U.S. sports, and pro pickleball players generally don’t have their assets publicly tracked the way mainstream athletes do. Any site claiming an exact net worth figure or listing specific cars for Haworth is speculating, not reporting from a verified source.

Christopher Haworth on Social Media

Haworth is most active on Instagram, where fans can follow his tournament schedule, training clips, and sponsor content:

• Instagram: @chrishaworth.pb — around 15,000 followers, business inquiries routed through Topnotch Management
• PPA Tour Profile — official bio, stats, and match highlights hosted on ppatour.com
• TikTok — highlight clips of Haworth’s matches circulate widely from PPA Tour’s official account and fan pages, though he does not maintain a dedicated personal TikTok at the scale of his Instagram
• X (Twitter) — occasional coverage via the PPA Tour’s official account, rather than a high-follower personal presence

If you’re trying to follow Haworth directly, Instagram is currently the most reliable and active account.

What’s Next for Christopher Haworth

Sitting at world No. 1 brings a different kind of pressure than climbing toward it. Every player on tour is now gunning for Haworth the way he once gunned for Ben Johns. His near-term focus, based on his own comments, is building out his doubles resume to match his singles dominance — he’s been paired with Grayson Goldin in men’s doubles and has trained mixed doubles with Jenna Hessert at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City.

Whether Haworth can hold the top spot the way Ben Johns did for 217 consecutive weeks remains the open question. But given how quickly he went from tennis burnout to world No. 1, betting against him hasn’t worked out well for his opponents so far.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christopher Haworth