By Joe James
What’s the story?
Hunter Johnson is heading to the men’s singles final of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Proton Tucson Open in Arizona after beating No.7 seed Dylan Frazier 11-8, 11-6.
In what is Johnson’s first final of the 2025 season, the No.3 seed fought off a six-point in-a-row charge from Frazier to reach Sunday’s final against sixth seed Christian Alshon in a battle for the gold.
Johnson said: “It was a little bit windy today, so I just had to focus on hitting through the ball. Dylan’s always a tough guy because he covers the net really well, so I just had to stay down on my shots and not overplay.”
Sunday is not just the day of the final; it is also the day of Super Bowl LIX (59) between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. While many will wonder where the correlation is between the two, during the Super Bowl, Johnson will be a part of the Michelob ULTRA commercial scheduled to air during the event.
Famous Hollywood stars Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara take on the role of pickleball pros in Michelob ULTRA’s ad, who are the sister brand of Bud Light.
The commercial features a bunch of pickleball pros including Johnson, Paris Todd, Jaume Martinez Vich, and Emily Cederquist.
“To be able to showcase pickleball on that stage and be involved is just super special and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Johnson said on the Super Bowl spotlight.
The Recap
Frazier Johnson, who hails from the small ski town of Taos, New Mexico, will face No.6 seed Christian Alshon in Sunday’s final.
Johnson beat Alex Neumann (11-3, 11-0), Noe Khlif (11-6, 11-7), Quang Dong, who retired due to injury in the quarter-final, and Dylan Frazier (11-8, 11-6).
Alshon faced Rio Newcombe (11-2, 11-2), Julian Arnold (11-2, 11-1), Eric Roddy (11-3, 11-0) and Jack Sock (11-1, 11-3) on his way to the final.
The finalist will feature in Michelob’s ULTRA commercial airing during the Super Bowl alongside fellow pickleball pros Paris Todd, Jaume Martinez Vich, and Emily Cederquist.
This is a major step for the sport, bringing pickleball to millions of eyes across a gigantic national and international audience.
Alongside Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara as stars outside the pickleball world, NFL legend Randy Moss, Olympic gold medallist Ryan Crouser and WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu will also appear.
The advertisement follows Dafoe and O’Hara, who face off against doubles teams in a battle for beer, and as the duo smash their opponents, they receive a crate of ULTRA, which is America’s most popular draft beer.
But before Johnson’s Super Bowl debut Johnson will face Alshon for the gold medal, which marks the opportunity for both players to win their first PPA singles title.
Keen eyes of the commercial may spot a distinctive gold-edged pickleball paddle made by Dope Pickleball. These paddles are used by Dafoe and O’Hara, who are ‘hustlers’ in the commercial.
The paddles were designed by Dope Pickleball founder Dominic Fotino, who spent years perfecting the design and manufacturing process. The paddle’s unique design was inspired by the glitter and excesses of Las Vegas’ high-roller private betting rooms.
The Vegas-inspired paddles were selected for commercial in collaboration with Sean Bollettieri-Abdali, President & Founder of The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach, and they have become a central element of the Super Bowl ad.
The PKLBull Verdict
Hunter Johnson’s recent accomplishments are significant to his playing career but his appearance in the Super Bowl commercial highlights the growth of pickleball and its increasing integration into mainstream culture.
Johnson’s story, combining on-court success with a highly publicised commercial, demonstrates pickleball’s rising profile. The Dope pickleball paddles used are also showcases of the contributions made to further the sport’s appeal.
The care, meticulousness, craft and time that went into designing the Dope High Roller Paddle, which took years to manufacture, adds an element of technical innovation but also as a highly marketable and desirable piece of equipment for the sport.
The combination of athletic achievement, entertainment, and innovative products signals a bright future for the sport and its athletes.
Events like this are not just personally gratifying for someone like Johnson, but it is also a massive step in bringing pickleball to the forefront of the sports world.
Michelob’s ULTRA Super Bowl commercial has generated a lot of buzz and interest in the sport and Dope Pickleball. It also is great marketing for the beer company, making it a successful attention-grabbing, sales-generating event for the world of pickleball and the brands involved.