Doubletake is proud to introduce our new brand ambassador, Jennifer Dawson. A professional pickleball player and member of the Pickleball Hall of Fame, she is talented, passionate and resilient--a true inspiration. Age 58, Jennifer has wisdom and motivation to spare, and we’re delighted she’s sharing her story and expertise with us. We look forward to collaborating with Jennifer on all things pickleball and what it means to be our best selves on court.
Jennifer was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to Los Angeles at age two. As happens in LA, her family lived two doors down from a movie producer who had a tennis court in his backyard. Her mother arranged for a tennis pro to give lessons there and so began an impressive career in racquet sports.
A natural athlete, Jennifer advanced quickly in the junior tennis circuit and played throughout Southern California. She earned a tennis scholarship to the University of San Diego where she played first singles and doubles. Her outstanding winning record earned her a finalist spot for NCAA Division One Senior Player of the Year.
After graduation, she joined the tennis pro tour. While she enjoyed the competition, she found the grind of tour life to be unfulfilling and decided to take a break. Married at age 22, Jennifer started a family soon after leaving professional tennis. Her husband, Steve Dawson, is also a tennis player from San Diego. Steve worked as tennis director at a number of clubs throughout Southern California before he and Jennifer took over operations at the Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Club in Encinitas, California. Yes, that Bobby Riggs. The club is named after the iconic player from the ‘70s, and the facility still displays memorabilia from the famed “Battle of the Sexes” match against Billie Jean King.
Busy running the club and taking care of her sons Callan and Tyler, Jennifer returned to tennis after a ten-year hiatus. Jennifer’s tennis second act led to her winning multiple tournaments and ultimately joining the International Tennis Federation World Masters Tour. This league features teams of four players, often former tennis pros and college players, who compete in tournaments around the world. Jennifer represented the United States while traveling to Australia, South Africa, Turkey and Croatia with this league. “It was amazing,” she says, “Super fun!”
While Jennifer’s tennis journey was more than enough accomplishment for a lifetime, her days lifting trophies were just getting started. In 2014, Jennifer and Steve were approached by a group of pickleball players who asked if they could temporarily convert a court or two at Bobby Riggs with tape lines and a portable net. The Dawsons were hesitant, but agreed. Back then, Jennifer explains, pickleball was looked down upon by serious tennis players. While that tension may still exist, it’s not as intense, Jennifer says. “Lots of former tennis players play nothing but pickleball now,” she adds. After a few months, the pickleball crowd at the Dawson’s club had grown into a large and enthusiastic group. Wanting to see what all the fuss was about, Jennifer and Steve decided to give the game a try. Safe to say, it clicked.
“Right away, my husband told me we’re quitting tennis and playing pickleball,” Jennifer says with a laugh. Acting on an immediate affinity for the game and a smart business hunch, the Dawsons began to transition their tennis club into a pickleball-only facility. Before long, Bobby Riggs went from seven tennis courts to 22 extremely busy pickleball courts. “People thought we were crazy to do it,” Jennifer says, “We were probably the first in California--one of the first in the country.”
While pickleball grew at the Dawson’s facility, Jennifer was growing her game as well, quickly becoming an elite player. She began competing in tournaments and winning big. She won the first ever ‘triple crown’ at the US Open championships, claiming the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in 2017. She is also a key participant in the National Pickleball League which hosts tournaments for pickleball pros over 50. Jennifer says NPL is a perfect example of the power of pickleball. “Everyone in that league is super-fit, athletic and competitive with tons of positive energy,” she says, “It’s really extraordinary to see.” An advocate for the game as well as a renowned champion, Jennifer was inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2023. “It was quite the honor,” Jennifer says. “The game has so many great contributors, and I was super excited to be included.”
Jennifer is also proud of her work with QVC. She was recently named one of QVC’s Quintessential 50, a group of women selected to represent the vitality and potential of women over 50. These impressive women include none other than tennis great Billie Jean King and celebrities Martha Stewart and Naomi Watts. This ‘Q50’ initiative celebrates the ‘Age of Possibility,’ honoring the notion women can continue to succeed and flourish at any age. “Just because you’re over 50 doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish great things,” Jennifer says, “It’s never too late to start a job, a business, a hobby or whatever you want. Go out there and do it. Keep living your best life!” We couldn’t agree more. Welcome to Team Doubletake, Jennifer.
