Rachael James
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 James-Baker showcasing her competitive spirit on the pickleball court | |
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | December 30, 1992 Plantation, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m).[1] |
| Turned pro | 2023 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| College | NC State University, Baylor University, University of North Carolina |
| Coach | Self |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 15 (DUPR)[2] |
| Current ranking | No. 24 (DUPR)[3] |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 5.667 (DUPR)[3] |
| Current ranking | No. 5.400 (DUPR)[3] |
| Last updated on: December 11, 2023. | |
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Rachael James-Baker (born December 30, 1992) is an American professional pickleball and former collegiate tennis player. Transitioning from a successful college tennis career, she has become a prominent figure in professional pickleball. James-Baker is currently ranked 24th in the world in pickleball singles according to DUPR[4].
Born in Plantation, Florida, James-Baker found success on the court early on, leading her high school to three consecutive state championships. She continued her athletic pursuits in tennis at NC State University, Baylor University, and the University of North Carolina, achieving significant rankings and records.
James-Baker is known in pickleball for founding Bull City Tennis and Destination Pickleball, organizations that focus on the promotion and development of the sport. Her passion for the sport and her business acumen have established her as a leader and innovator in the pickleball community.
Early life[edit]
Early Life and Education[edit]
Rachael Cecelia James-Baker was born on December 30 to parents Kent Baker and Adrian James. She attended American Heritage Academy in Plantation, Florida, where she excelled as a tennis player and also played volleyball for two years. During her high school years, she led her school to three consecutive state championships from 2009-11. She won the No. 1 doubles championship as a senior and was both the No. 1 singles champion and No. 1 doubles runner-up as a junior. Her prowess on the court earned her a ranking of No. 40 overall among newcomers in 2012 by TennisRecruiting.net and No. 9 in the USTA Florida Section for players aged 18-and-under in the 2011-12 season.
Collegiate Tennis Career[edit]
James-Baker began her collegiate tennis career at NC State University where, during her freshman year (2012-13), she notched up 17 singles wins. As a sophomore (2013-14), she led her team with 13 dual singles wins from the No. 2 spot, including several victories over ranked opponents.
She then transferred to Baylor University for her junior season (2014-15), posting a singles record of 14-9 and doubles record of 14-10. During this time, she achieved an ITA ranking inside the top-100, with a peak at No. 82. Baylor women's tennis team became conference champions that year. In the same season, when Baylor was playing in the NCAA tournament, she was the deciding match at the #4 spot. She won that match in 3 sets, almost finishing at midnight, and pushing her team to advance to the round of 16.
Her final transfer was to the University of North Carolina where she sat out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA regulations before completing an impressive redshirt senior season (2016-17) with a singles record of 12-9 and doubles record of 21-11. The UNC - Chapel Hill tennis team was the #1 and #2 team in the country for the majority of the year.
Professional Pickleball Career[edit]
Following her successful collegiate tennis career, James pivoted to professional pickleball[5]. She founded Bull City Tennis[6], which offers tennis instruction programs, and Destination Pickleball[7], an organization devoted to providing unique pickleball experiences in Cancun[8].
In her role as CEO of Destination Pickleball, Rachael has been involved in various initiatives aiming to increase the sport's popularity. She also provides insights into pickleball mastery through platforms like Recess Pickleball[9].
James competes professionally on the APP Tour where she has delivered notable performances despite fierce competition[10][11]
Rachael James-Baker has quickly made her mark in the professional pickleball scene. On December 10, 2023, she secured a second-place finish at the "DUPR Nationals Puerto Rico," showcasing her skill and competitive nature on the court.[12]
DUPR Statistics[edit]
Rachael James-Baker's performance in professional pickleball is quantified by her Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), which is a reflection of her skill level based on match outcomes. As of December 11, 2023, her DUPR statistics are as follows:
| Statistic | Doubles | Singles |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.207[3] | 5.400[3] |
| Wins | 16[3] | 19[3] |
| Losses | 18[3] | 14[3] |
| Average Points | 50.41%[3] | 55.38%[3] |
| Average Partner Rating | 5.45[3] | N/A |
| Average Opponent Rating | 5.27[3] | 5.38[3] |
James-Baker's DUPR ratings and match records reflect her performance in both singles and doubles matches within the sport of pickleball.
Career Highlights and Achievements[edit]
In high school, Rachael James-Baker was crowned the Florida Class 2A - #1 Singles Champion[13]. In college, some of her most notable achievements include defeating the then-ranked Zoe Scandalis from USC while at Baylor, and securing victory over NC State's ranked duo Moldovan/Wiktorin during her tenure at UNC.
Post-Collegiate Life[edit]
Following her college career, James served as the Tennis Director at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was part of Pat's Tennis Aces, working under CEO Pat Williams. In addition to her role at Grandover Resort, James held the position of Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at William Peace University, a Division III institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
James furthered her education by earning a Master's degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University. She also holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, where she double majored in Political Science and Journalism, with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Career Summary & Highlights - Rachael James-Baker". TennisRecruiting.net. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ "DUPR Player Profile: Rachael James-Baker". DUPR. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "DUPR Player Profile: Rachael James-Baker". DUPR. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ "DUPR Player Profile: Rachael James-Baker". DUPR. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ "With a decorated background in collegiate tennis and now a thriving professional pickleball career." Recess Pickleball
- ↑ "Bull City Tennis was founded by Rachael James." Bull City Tennis
- ↑ "Rachael James is the founder of Destination Pickleball." Destination Pickleball
- ↑ "Destination Pickleball is a unique organization devoted to providing Pickleball enthusiasts with unforgettable experiences in Cancun." Destination Pickleball
- ↑ "Pickleball Mastery with Rachael James." Recess Pickleball
- ↑ "James played collegiate tennis at NC State, Baylor and then the University of North Carolina." The Dink Pickleball
- ↑ "Hard fought gold for Rachael James who ultimately falls short to Anna Bright." NML Pickleball
- ↑ "Championship Sunday - DUPR Nationals Puerto Rico". La Cocina Pickleball. December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ "Meet new people and stay active with The Vega’s neighbor, Bull City Tennis." The Vega Durham
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