A Major League Pickleball player explains why the sport has become the fastest-growing in the U.S., stating that “it has it all.”
In 2019, Pablo Tellez was living in Naples, Florida, still passionate about tennis, the sport he had always played. He competed collegiately at the University of West Florida, where he won a Division II national title.
However, a visit to a tennis shop set Tellez on a new path to becoming a professional athlete in the fastest-growing sport in America: pickleball. From 2022 to 2023, pickleball saw a 51.8% increase in players in the U.S., with a growth rate of 223.5% since 2020
With the sport’s rapid growth, Major League Pickleball (MLP) has emerged as a league for top players worldwide, including Tellez, who plays for the Brooklyn Aces. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Tellez shared why pickleball is attracting millions of new players across America.
“I think it’s several things,” said Tellez, who has partnered with LOTTO, a co-owner of the Aces. “First of all, it’s incredibly fun. I’ve never seen anyone at a pickleball court not smiling and enjoying themselves. It’s much more social than other racket sports because you’re always very close to your opponent and partner. Without that social aspect, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable. But everyone’s looking for it. Pickleball has even become a way for people to date, make friends, and just hang out.”
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