Jay Devilliers: Figuring Out Ben Johns, Bringing Pickle to France, and The Body Bag Debate | S4 E10

Jay Devilliers, "the Flying Frenchman," is one of pro pickleball's most accomplished veterans — a former Wichita State tennis standout who transitioned into the pro ranks in 2019 and has stayed near the top of the sport for over half a decade. In this season-closing episode, Jay sits down with Roscoe and Jared for a wide-ranging conversation tracing his path from a hyper-competitive French sporting family through Spanish tennis academies, Wichita State doubles, and into the earliest days of pro pickleball. They cover his partnership with Pat Smith, his rivalry with Ben Johns and Collin Johns, and how he's stayed relevant through injuries and the sport's rapid evolution. Jay breaks down his surreal run as a US Open hitting partner, including a 90-minute session with Rafael Nadal, strategically set up by Carlos Moya, that left his hands blistered and bleeding. He also details the six-month ultimatum his wife gave him in 2020 to prove himself in pickleball or go find a real job, a deadline COVID nearly wiped out before he committed to the sport full time in 2021. Jay also opens up about splitting from longtime partner Pat Smith after sponsor pressure pushed him toward a pairing with Tyson McGuffin, the epic finals battles with Ben Johns and Collin Johns that helped shape Riley Newman and Matt Wright's rise, and his philosophy on body bags, including firing one back at an opponent and the unforgettable moment Anna Leigh Waters caught him with one of her own. He closes out reflecting on raising four kids while grinding on tour and his goal to grow pickleball in Europe. Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Add us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pickleballers https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef Timestamps: 1:44 — Welcome to the season finale 6:48 — Growing up the youngest of six in France 10:56 — Chasing tennis to Spain and Wichita State 13:07 — Becoming a dad as a senior in college 16:05 — Becoming a US Open hitting partner 17:39 — Practicing with Rafael Nadal 21:33 — Building a career after the US Open 24:01 — Finding pickleball at Chicken N Pickle 26:51 — The six-month ultimatum to go pro 27:53 — Wichita's early pickleball hotbed 33:31 — Cracking the code on Ben Johns 37:08 — Why he and Pat Smith split up 41:03 — Battling back from injury in 2024 45:03 — How the sport has changed since 2020 50:09 — Reinventing his game every year 51:48 — The body bag debate 53:56 — The Anna Leigh Waters body bag 55:31 — Tennis vs. pickleball: which is harder 58:22 — The "Two Anna Leighs" hypothetical 1:00:03 — The craziest moment: Zane's chainsaw serve 1:02:03 — Who talks the most trash on tour 1:03:24 — Legacy, longevity, and growing pickleball in Europe Source: The Kitchen - A Pickleball Community

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