Before Rachael James ever picked up a paddle, she’d already spent two decades on the tennis court. A Detroit native who moved to Florida as a kid so her parents could give her the best shot at a tennis career, Rachael competed collegiately at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and played semi-professionally. Tennis was her identity.
Then, in a moment that had nothing to do with competition, everything changed.
“I wanted to find an activity where I could bond with my mom and make new friends. We had our first pickleball lesson together at the Delray Tennis Center, and I instantly fell in love with the sport.”
That first lesson turned into a full-time career. On August 1, 2023, Rachael went all-in — leaving behind two decades of tennis to compete exclusively in professional pickleball. It’s the kind of leap that most athletes talk about but never take.
From Durham to the PPA Tour
Now based in Durham, NC, Rachael has become one of the most visible players in the Triangle pickleball scene — and increasingly, on the national stage. The numbers tell part of the story:
- #1 ranked women’s player in North Carolina
- 17th in the world in women’s singles (career high)
- DUPR 5.6 doubles / 5.55 singles
- 22 pro tournaments and 101 career matches on the PPA and APP tours
- Multiple ESPN2 appearances
But raw stats undersell what makes Rachael compelling. She regularly punches above her weight — beating top-40 doubles teams and pulling off upsets that the pickleball world doesn’t see coming. Her mixed doubles victory at PPA Mesa, where she and partner Erik Forsythe knocked off DJ Young (top 20 globally) and Cass Hoag (top 40 globally), was the kind of result that puts a player on the map permanently.
“That match was a turning point in my career and marked significant growth in my pickleball development. I train hard every day to improve, and it was gratifying to see my efforts pay off.”
The Training Grind
Rachael’s current regimen is built around versatility. She trains 1.5 hours in singles and 1.5 hours in doubles, Monday through Friday — a shift from her earlier approach of drilling doubles exclusively for 3–4 hours a day. The strategic pivot is deliberate: she’s focused on mastering the left side in gendered doubles, a position most women avoid because mixed doubles experience naturally builds right-side skills.
“By mastering the left side, I can partner with almost anyone,” she explains. “That will give me the best opportunity to make big runs in tournaments.”
It’s the kind of calculated thinking you’d expect from someone who’s competed at elite levels across two racquet sports — always optimizing, always looking for the edge that compounds over time.
Building More Than a Playing Career
Rachael isn’t just playing the sport — she’s building around it. She’s the founder of Destination Pickleball, an organization dedicated to growing the sport through international tournaments, travel experiences, and professional training camps. The operation has partnerships with the PPA, APP, USA Pickleball, The Dink, and UDX — and has helped organize over 1,000 destination events.
She also launched Pickle Pros (pckl.pro), a platform that creates personalized web pages for professional players — showcasing their accomplishments while letting fans book lessons directly. It’s a practical solution to a real problem: how do aspiring pro players earn a living between tournaments?
“Our platform is designed to support aspiring pro pickleball players by providing them with a way to earn money while at home, while also enabling them to travel and compete in tournaments.”
And in the Triangle specifically, Rachael serves as Peak Sports Director, helping shape the competitive pickleball landscape in a region that’s rapidly becoming one of the country’s most important markets for the sport.
Why the Triangle
Rachael’s decision to base herself in Durham isn’t random. The Triangle has emerged as a national hotspot for pickleball, with dedicated facilities, a growing player base, and a community that takes the sport seriously without taking itself too seriously. For a player who competes at the highest level but also wants to build businesses and grow the sport’s grassroots, Durham is the right fit.
At 33, right-handed, and standing 5’7″, Rachael has the physical tools and the competitive fire of someone who’s been training since childhood. But it’s the combination of athlete, entrepreneur, and community builder that makes her story worth watching.
Follow Rachael’s journey: @rachaeljamespickleball_ on Instagram, or visit rachael.pro for her full tournament schedule and coaching availability.