Jay Devilliers took full advantage of a break in the schedule to prepare for the biggest event in pickleball history
With the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships on the horizon, Jay Devilliers stopped by PPA Tour HQ in Dallas earlier this week for a quick match with broadcaster and senior pro, Dave Fleming.
After working up a sweat, the man affectionately dubbed the “Flying Frenchman” shared his excitement about participating in pickleball’s largest-ever tournament with a record-breaking field of over 3,500 competitors and 20,000 spectators at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch beginning on Sunday, Nov. 5.
“Competing among the best is always very exciting,” said Devilliers, who turned pro in 2019. “The fact that the tournament is bigger makes it even more appealing for us to come and compete here. Playing in a bigger atmosphere is always more motivating, so it forces you to push your limits and play maybe a little bit above your standards, too.”
The 28-year-old Wichita, KS resident feels strong and in good form for Nationals after a three-week break following the PPA Championships at Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas.
Devilliers took a few days to relax and spend time with his wife, Aleksandra, and three kids, Danilo, Mateo, and Leonardo, before quickly resuming his training regimen.
“It was two pickleball sessions on a daily basis, plus fitness on the side,” he explained. “At the end of the day, my goal is to play the best that I can and be as prepared as possible so that on the court everything is mechanical and not robotic.”
In addition to playing singles, Devilliers will also be competing with 18-year-old Gabriel Tardio in men’s doubles and veteran Allyce Jones in mixed doubles as well.
The partnership with Tardio is particularly special given the pair’s unique history together.
“It’s a funny story. I’ve actually known Gabriel since he was very young,” he said. “He actually took one of my clinics a long time ago, and now I’m playing with him. He’s an amazing player. He’s young, fresh, and he loves pickleball, so I’m very excited about it.”
The fact that Dallas is hosting the prestigious event resonates with Devilliers as well for a couple of reasons.
Not only is it within driving distance from Wichita, so his family will be in the stands for support, but he has also forged some important relationships in the city over the years.
“I’ve met a lot of very friendly people and the pickleball community has been so great in Dallas,” he said. “It’s definitely one of my favorite places to play.”
No matter Devilliers’ results at Nationals, though, he plans on appreciating every single moment on the court and soaking up the entire experience from start to finish.
After all, it’s not every day that you get to be a part of sports history.
“You can ask a lot of the players and they will say I’m usually not taking myself too seriously because I’m trying to enjoy the moment and not make it like it’s a job. Coming from tennis, I’ve seen it too many times. I have also experienced that as a tennis player,” he explained. “My goal is just to not forget to live while being in it.”
As the lone Frenchman on tour, Devilliers is also looking forward to pickleball’s continued growth in North America and especially overseas.
“There’s a lot of good players that elevate pickleball as a sport and elevate the sport across all continents and countries,” he concluded. “It’s great for the sport in general and it’s fantastic to be a part of.”
Beginning November 5th at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX, Devilliers will be playing men’s doubles with 18-year-old Gabriel Tardio. According to Devilliers, “It’s a funny story, [he’s] known [Tardio] since he was young.” Tardio actually took one of Devilliers’ clinics several years ago, and now they will be playing together.
Additionally, Devilliers will be playing alongside Allyce Jones for mixed doubles. These two have played several tournaments together this year and have more planned.
Devilliers feels strong and in good form for nationals after a three-week break between tournaments. After taking a few days to relax and spend some time with his family, he got back to his training. “Two pickleball sessions on a daily basis plus fitness on the side. Trying to get as fit as possible and ready to play the best [he] can.”
With his schedule and positive attitude to “not forget to have fun” on the court, set Devilliers up for success. Enjoying the moment is a priority for Devilliers.
“You can ask a lot of the players and they will say [he’s] not taking myself too seriously. Because [he] tries to enjoy the moment.” Coming from a tennis background, Devilliers says, “[his] goal is to not forget to live while being in it.”
No matter the final score or result, Devilliers aims to achieve this by “disassociating from the past, the future and the present. And do the best that [he] can in the moment.”
This is the biggest pickleball event in history. With 3,500 competitors, 20,000 spectators, and the largest venue yet, Devilliers looks ahead to nationals with enthusiasm. “Competing among the best is always very exciting. The fact that the tournament is bigger makes it even more appealing for us to come and compete here.”
Despite National’s growing scale, Devilliers says, “At the end of the day, [his] goal is to play the best that he can and be as prepared as possible. So that on court, everything is mechanic and not robotic.”
Additionally, Devilliers is particularly excited that Nationals will be held in Dallas. He says he’s “met a lot of friendly people and the pickleball community has been so great in Dallas. It’s definitely one of [his] favorite places to play.” And with Dallas being a drivable distance from his home in Wichita, Kansas, his family will be in the stands. “It’s more special when [his] three boys are coming and cheering for [him].”
As the sole representative for France among the Pro lineup, Devilliers is also looking forward to the growth of the sport, discussing the growing popularity in England, Italy, Spain, and France.
“There’s a lot of good players that elevate pickleball as a sport and elevate the sport across all continents and countries.” And with the tournament streaming on ESPN, there’s only more growth opportunity for the sport, the players, and the competition. And according to Devilliers, “It’s fantastic to be a part of.”
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