DEVELOPMENT
Hunter, born and raised in the picturesque ski town of Taos, New Mexico, embarked on a remarkable athletic journey that began with a deep passion for tennis. He pursued his dreams at the collegiate level, earning a scholarship to play Division I tennis at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. Alongside his twin brother Yates, Hunter etched their names in school history as the winningest doubles team, achieving a career-high ranking of 15 in the country in doubles and 30 in singles.
Following graduation, Hunter dedicated four years to honing his skills on the Tennis Pro Tour in doubles, where he notched an impressive tally of 14 professional titles, including victories over top players like Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. One of the highlights of his career was the opportunity to practice with the legendary Roger Federer. Despite reaching a career-high ATP Doubles ranking of 198 in the world, Hunter made the difficult decision to bid farewell to tennis at the end of 2021, transitioning along with his twin brother to compete full-time in professional pickleball.
Since making the switch, Hunter has emerged as a formidable force on the pickleball circuit, climbing the ranks to become the 2nd best player in the world in DUPR Singles rankings at one point. His tenacity and skill have propelled him to numerous accolades, including consecutive 4th place finishes in singles at nationals and selection in the premier drafts of Major League Pickleball (MLP), representing the Atlanta Bouncers and currently the LA Mad Drops.
With unwavering determination, Hunter continues to pursue his goal of becoming the top pickleball player in the world, showcasing his resilience and passion on every step of his extraordinary journey.
PPA Tour: Select Medical Orange County Cup - 2025
Bracket Completed
Gold:
Hunter Johnson
Silver:
Federico Staksrud
Bronze:
Connor Garnett
Bracket Completed
Match #28
Jun 17
Vivienne David, Hunter Johnson
G1
11
-2
G2
11
-4
Mohaned Alhouni, Ava Ignatowich
G1
11
2
G2
11
4
Match #58
Jun 18
Tina Pisnik, Dylan Frazier
G1
1
-11
G2
11
-3
G3
11
-8
Hunter Johnson, Vivienne David
G1
1
11
G2
11
3
G3
11
8
Gold:
Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns
Silver:
Jorja Johnson / James Johnson
Bronze:
Anna Bright / Hayden Patriquin
Bracket Completed
Match #34
Jun 19
Hunter Johnson, Augustus Ge
G1
12
-10
G2
12
-10
Sergey Afanasenka, Alex Emery
G1
12
10
G2
12
10
Gold:
Ben Johns / Gabriel Tardio
Silver:
Federico Staksrud / Hayden Patriquin
Bronze:
James Johnson / CJ Klinger