The Dink ends with Jake Johnson’s character, Dusty Boyd, finally confronting his old tennis rival and helping secure a future for his father’s struggling club. However, Dusty does not simply restore the club to its old tennis-only identity. His final decision creates space for both tennis and pickleball.
Apple’s sports comedy follows a former tennis prodigy who reluctantly enters the pickleball world after another wrist injury ends his latest attempt at returning to tennis. The film arrived globally on Apple TV on July 24, 2026.
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- Release date: July 24, 2026
- Streaming platform: Apple TV
- Genre: Sports comedy
- Runtime: 1 hour and 42 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Director: Josh Greenbaum
- Main cast: Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Aaron Chen, Patton Oswalt and Ben Stiller
Spoiler warning for The Dink ending
Dusty spends most of the film trying to earn the approval of his father, Chuck, who runs the suburban tennis club. Chuck considers pickleball an insult to tennis and supports a plan that will determine whether pickleball players can continue using the club.
Dusty originally shares his father’s dislike for the sport. His opinion begins to change after his doctor recommends pickleball as part of his wrist rehabilitation. He starts playing with Candace and discovers that the game gives him something tennis has not offered for years: enjoyment, friendship and a sense of belonging.
The experience also forces Dusty to face the failure that defined his younger years. His promising tennis career collapsed after a humiliating match against Andy Roddick, leaving him trapped between resentment and his need for Chuck’s respect.
Does Dusty defeat Andy Roddick?
Yes, Dusty defeats Andy Roddick during the final pickleball match.
Dusty wins the coin toss and chooses the club’s neglected pickleball court. The cracked surface and poor conditions expose how little attention Chuck has given the pickleball community. Roddick initially controls the match because his tennis skills allow him to hit powerful and accurate shots.
Dusty eventually stops trying to play pickleball like tennis. He uses patience, softer shots and the lessons he learned from Candace and the other players. He wins the contest and finally overcomes the rival connected to his greatest athletic disappointment.
Does Jake save the tennis club?
Dusty saves the club, although its future changes after his victory.
The ending does not remove tennis or allow pickleball to take over every court. Six months later, the club holds its first official pickleball tournament while continuing to support tennis. The two groups now share the facilities, and the pickleball players receive proper courts and recognition.
Chuck also gives Dusty the approval he has wanted for years. Still, Dusty’s emotional victory comes from accepting his own identity rather than rebuilding the tennis career his father imagined for him.
His relationship with Candace remains a close friendship after she makes it clear that she does not want a romance. Dusty also receives a new nickname, “The Dink,” replacing the aggressive “Hammer” identity associated with his tennis days.
The final scene shows that Dusty has saved more than the club. He has helped turn it into a community where tennis and pickleball can exist together.
What did you think about Dusty’s final match against Andy Roddick, and should The Dink return with another pickleball story? Let us know in the comments.
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