So what does it actually take to go pro in pickleball? Hannah Blatt, now one of the top names in women’s singles, recently broke down her journey on the Pickleballers Podcast.

And it’s anything but ordinary.

With a high-level squash background, Blatt stepped onto the pickleball court with a built-in edge, bringing elite footwork, touch, and court awareness that translated quickly to the game.

“When I started playing pickleball, my intention wasn’t to play professionally,” she said. “But slowly you realize that maybe you can compete with the highest level, and you want to throw yourself in there. But I had no idea where to start.”

While based in South Florida, Blatt began sharpening her game by drilling alongside top local pros, including Ava Ignatowich and Hurricane Tyra Black, accelerating her transition into the top ranks.

“I don’t think I ever played a tournament in a non-pro division. Sometimes people will start at 3.0 and advance up, but I just thought I’m just going to travel to this tournament and enter into the pro division and see how I compete,” recalled Blatt. “So I played a few tournaments, but I was still working my full-time job.”

Blatt quickly fell in love with the tournament scene—the intensity of the competition, the friendships formed along the way, and the rhythm of life on the road.

It offered an exciting escape from the routine of her everyday life.

“I liked tournaments because it was like an escape from reality. You go to this tournament, you’re kind of high on life, and you’re playing pickleball in New York or Austin, somewhere different. Then you’re meeting new friends, and it’s just fun,” she explained. “I remember getting home from tournaments and feeling sad or drained. I called it “tournament withdrawal.” I was wondering why I was so sad when I’d get home from tournaments, and I realized it was because I couldn’t wait to go to the next tournament.”

Blatt kept entering tournaments and steadily elevating her game. Along the way, she teamed up with Grayson Goldin, who was also searching for a mixed doubles partner—and the connection proved to be a game-changer.

Since then, the duo has signed PPA contracts, been drafted to MLP teams, and most recently, taken their partnership off the court with an engagement.

“It’s a cute little pickleball love story,” said Blatt.

Having Goldin by her side, as both a mixed partner and eventual life partner, meant everything to Blatt.

That constant support made her journey to the pros all the more rewarding.

“It’s special. It’s not every day that people are able to find their significant other while doing a hobby or passion. A lot of people use dating apps and that’s fine, but to be able to tell the story of finding each other through pickleball, both of us playing professional pickleball, I think that has been one of the biggest things,” she insisted. “It’s hard playing pro pickleball. It’s lonely, it’s long days, long weeks. To have someone there with you that understands it completely, and to be there for your support when you get off the court, is so special. It makes me want to do this as long as I can.”

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