Life on the road isn’t always easy, but having a strong support system can make all the difference.

For the newest group of signed pros, that sense of community has become one of the most meaningful parts of life on the professional circuit.

“The PPA Tour has given me the best friends in my life,” said Gio Morelli, who signed in 2025.

Morelli, Kiora Kunimoto, Ella Yeh and several other rising stars have already built close friendships. Whether they’re sharing Airbnbs, training together between matches, or cheering each other on during big moments, the group has formed a tight-knit bond.

“Having a community on tour makes life so much easier. I get to play with my South Florida people like Chris Crouch, Alex and Angie Walker, Nicole Conard, Tom Protzek, Anouar Braham,” said Morelli. “I love to surround myself with positive people. Having a big group, like a big family, is so great to have that support and just be there for each other.”

Spending so much time away from home can be challenging for young athletes, but the friendships they’ve created have become a second family.

“Kiora is probably my best friend on tour. She’s honestly more like a sister at this point,” mentioned Morelli. “We both got signed together because we both played Cincinnati together. We met in San Clemente last year, played a few points, and we’ve basically been friends ever since. I consider her my sister for sure, and she’s going to be a bridesmaid in my wedding one day.”

The feeling is mutual for Kunimoto. 

“It’s so great to have good friends around because you really build strong bonds,” she emphasized. “Gio and Ella are always on my bench. I love having them there to coach me and cheer me on. It means the world to have my friends there supporting me.”

“I play much better when my friends are there watching me. A part of it is the mental game, just knowing I’m not all alone out there. But it’s also so helpful from the coaching side of things. My dad is my coach and he can’t travel to tournaments, so my friends will be checking my phone for me during the match and giving me his ideas during timeouts,” said Kunimoto. “The support from my friends really matters so much to me. I’m just so grateful for them.”

While having support during tough matches means a lot, Morelli says some of the most meaningful moments happen off the court — helping each other warm up, training together after matches, and gathering for group dinners after long days at tournaments.

“Building these friendships has actually helped me get better and stronger on the court,” insisted Morelli. “When I’m traveling, I can train and practice with them, but I also just love to hang out with everyone.”

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