At the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, one name stole the spotlight: Tama Shimabukuro. The 15-year-old phenom surged through the men’s singles and doubles draws, delivering a string of stunning upsets over top seeds like Jaume Martinez Vich, Federico Staskrud, Noe Khlif, and Hunter Johnson. His remarkable run carried him all the way to his first finals appearance.

“Tama brings a totally different style. He’s fun to watch. He doesn’t have that tennis background, so he brings some different shots and variety that you don’t see from other players. And he’s like the calmest guy on tour,” praised Chris Haworth, who ultimately stopped Shimabukuro’s singles run on Championship Sunday. “He’s 15 years old and he doesn’t ever get frustrated or flustered. I actually have to take that and try to learn from that honestly.”

Having once been in Shimabukuro’s position herself, Anna Leigh Waters says she’s excited to watch his continued rise.

“I’ve always been an advocate for the junior players and the younger pros because I was one of them. I know what it feels like,” said Waters. “But it does add pressure. Now that I’m a little older, I realize that when you’re older playing a young kid, there’s a different element to it.” 

“Tama slows the ball down well and he doesn’t give you any pace,” said Johnson. “The last time we played, I beat him, but he’s gotten a lot better. It’s good to have good players like that coming in and seeing the talent. I was hoping I could show some veteran talent, but it didn’t happen this time. He’s a great opponent and has a long future in pickleball. I’m going to get him next time.”

“I started playing pickleball when I was 22 years old, and Tama started when he was like 13,” noted Alshon. “That’s going to be the best because you have all the advantages of pickleball and none of the disadvantages of playing a prior sport like tennis.”

For Roscoe Bellamy, what stands out most is Shimabukuro’s character on the court.

“Tama is an absolute superstar. He’s such a good example of what a polite and classy player looks like,” praised Bellamy. “He’s got a lot of sportsmanship, and then when you talk to him, he’s so nice. This kid is impossible not to root for. When I’m not playing for him, I’m rooting for him, too.”

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