An Amateur Just Beat the Former #1 Player in the World

$20K, one point, zero room for error — Nathan joins the pod fresh off winning the first-ever Paddletek One Point Challenge with Zane as his partner. We break down how they actually pulled it off, plus the chainsaw serve that almost got them DQ'd in the final. Also this week: the Shock swept the 5s at Beer City Open, Zane's prop bet died in front of everyone, and there's a new S-tier. Federico Staksrud's about to be the most valuable trade chip in the league — we rank who should go get him. Kate Fahey vs. Jorja Johnson gets heated. And Zane's got a real answer for how to stop teams from hunting Anna Leigh Waters all game. Then the actual news: Paddletek just bought PIKKL and signed the whole Johnson family — JW, Jorja, and Julie — plus Hurricane Tyra Black. Ron and Joe Saslow explain why that deal happened, why paddle brands keep eating each other, and whether Padel is about to eat pickleball's lunch. Oh, and there's a cereal draft. 🗳️ Vote on our Cereal Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → Here you go:   / discord   📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com 📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Follow us on IG :   / thedinkpickleball   -Continue the convo in our private FB Group:   / thedi.  . -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:39 MLP Mid Season recap 6:48 Takeaways from the weekend 8:34 Three S-tier teams 10:52 Everyone needs Federico Staksrud 14:59 Salary cap and salary floor 20:29 Icing out Anna Leigh Waters Nathan Furness 26:34 The Paddletek 1-Point Challenge 35:50 Going toe-to-toe with Zane 43:10 Somebody hire Nathan 45:55 Cereal draft 54:10 Guess my DUPR Ron and Joe Saslow 59:25 Ron and Joe join the show 1:02:09 How do the Johnsons fit in? 1:04:42 The age of consolidation 1:12:15 Addressing the “doubters” 1:21:30 Bullish on pickleball 1:25:59 What’s more valuable: reviewers or pros?