Dahlia Garza: From Tennis to Pickleball, a Passion That Keeps Growing
Her Goal For 2025 Is Clear: Break Into The Top 15
February edition, I am honored to introduce a very special guest, a player whose talent, charisma, and determination are admired by everyone in the pickleball community. She is Dahlia Garza, a former tennis player in Mexican origin, known for her resilience and simplicity, but don’t be fooled by her angelic appearance. If you ever find yourself on the other side of the net from her, I assure you, the experience will be anything but calm.
Behind her smile and friendly attitude lies a high-performance athlete, competitive and with an unstoppable hunger for victory. Every time she steps onto the court, you can feel the PR animals run in packs. And Dahlia Garza is one of them.
Her goal for 2025 is clear: break into the top 15. In this interview, Dahlia shares with us her life, career, and how pickleball has become her true passion. I traveled two states with a month, comparing my PR tournaments all over the U.S. “She surprises.” This week she completely changed up. With an amazing support team that includes figures like Kevin Kirk, John, and Tom, as well as several sponsors who have believed in her, Dahlia is more motivated than ever.
But beyond her athletic success, we also immerse ourselves in her hobbies. In my free time, I enjoy doing puzzles. I’m a huge fan of them! Late at night, I love to unwind and listen to audiobooks, especially one by Andre Agassi, which I’ve listened to for three months,” she reveals.
Dahlia described a deeply personal memory—one that continues to inspire her every single day.
“One day, God took my father away, and he was my biggest source of motivation. But I feel him with me every time I step onto the court.”
Her father was the one who introduced her to tennis at a very young age.
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“When I was three, he taught me how to play tennis. I remember that there were no more courts, the cleverly hung a ball on a string so I could practice,” Dahlia recalls. “Later, in the garage, my dad marked the lines of a tennis court, and that’s where I truly fell in love with the sport.”
Dahlia grew up in a small beach town on the Gulf of California, surrounded by a close-knit family and a strong sporting culture.
“I have five siblings, and we were all involved in racquet sports. My mom was always very affectionate, and my dad—who always believed in me—constantly motivated me to keep trying.”
But her path was far from easy. Like many athletes, Dahlia faced uncertainty and sacrifice.
“During that break, she decided to return to tennis, initially as a way to stay active and share her knowledge by teaching students. But an unexpected moment would change the direction of her life.”
“One day, one of my students didn’t show up for class. While I was waiting, I noticed a court for a sport I didn’t recognize—pickleball. A guy named Russell invited me to play doubles because they needed a fourth player. Even though I knew nothing about pickleball, I accepted just to be polite... and from that moment on, I haven’t stopped playing.”
After that first experience, Dahlia began training with greater intensity. Soon after, a friend invited her to compete in a national tournament, where she earned a second-place finish. In the mixed doubles category, alongside her partner Justin, she went on to claim first place—marking the beginning of a new competitive chapter in her athletic journey.
“pickleball is totally addictive”
Today, Dahlia is more committed than ever to pickleball and is excited to see the sport continue to grow.
“It’s amazing to see how more and more people are joining the sport. In the parks, I see new people, many of them former football players, baseball players, and athletes from other disciplines, all entering the professional level. The most surprising thing is that once you try it, pickleball is totally addictive,” she says with a smile, something we can all relate to.
The future of pickleball in 2025 looks bright, and with athletes like Dahlia Garza, there’s no doubt this sport is in great hands.
Her Goal For 2025 Is Clear: Break Into The Top 15
February edition, I am honored to introduce a very special guest, a player whose talent, charisma, and determination are admired by everyone in the pickleball community. She is Dahlia Garza, a former tennis player in Mexican origin, known for her resilience and simplicity, but don’t be fooled by her angelic appearance. If you ever find yourself on the other side of the net from her, I assure you, the experience will be anything but calm.
Behind her smile and friendly attitude lies a high-performance athlete, competitive and with an unstoppable hunger for victory. Every time she steps onto the court, you can feel the PR animals run in packs. And Dahlia Garza is one of them.
Her goal for 2025 is clear: break into the top 15. In this interview, Dahlia shares with us her life, career, and how pickleball has become her true passion. I traveled two states with a month, comparing my PR tournaments all over the U.S. “She surprises.” This week she completely changed up. With an amazing support team that includes figures like Kevin Kirk, John, and Tom, as well as several sponsors who have believed in her, Dahlia is more motivated than ever.
But beyond her athletic success, we also immerse ourselves in her hobbies. In my free time, I enjoy doing puzzles. I’m a huge fan of them! Late at night, I love to unwind and listen to audiobooks, especially one by Andre Agassi, which I’ve listened to for three months,” she reveals.
Dahlia described a deeply personal memory—one that continues to inspire her every single day.
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“One day, God took my father away, and he was my biggest source of motivation. But I feel him with me every time I step onto the court.”
Her father was the one who introduced her to tennis at a very young age.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
“When I was three, he taught me how to play tennis. I remember that there were no more courts, the cleverly hung a ball on a string so I could practice,” Dahlia recalls. “Later, in the garage, my dad marked the lines of a tennis court, and that’s where I truly fell in love with the sport.”
Dahlia grew up in a small beach town on the Gulf of California, surrounded by a close-knit family and a strong sporting culture.
“I have five siblings, and we were all involved in racquet sports. My mom was always very affectionate, and my dad—who always believed in me—constantly motivated me to keep trying.”
But her path was far from easy. Like many athletes, Dahlia faced uncertainty and sacrifice.
“During that break, she decided to return to tennis, initially as a way to stay active and share her knowledge by teaching students. But an unexpected moment would change the direction of her life.”
“One day, one of my students didn’t show up for class. While I was waiting, I noticed a court for a sport I didn’t recognize—pickleball. A guy named Russell invited me to play doubles because they needed a fourth player. Even though I knew nothing about pickleball, I accepted just to be polite... and from that moment on, I haven’t stopped playing.”
After that first experience, Dahlia began training with greater intensity. Soon after, a friend invited her to compete in a national tournament, where she earned a second-place finish. In the mixed doubles category, alongside her partner Justin, she went on to claim first place—marking the beginning of a new competitive chapter in her athletic journey.
“pickleball is totally addictive”
Today, Dahlia is more committed than ever to pickleball and is excited to see the sport continue to grow.
“It’s amazing to see how more and more people are joining the sport. In the parks, I see new people, many of them former football players, baseball players, and athletes from other disciplines, all entering the professional level. The most surprising thing is that once you try it, pickleball is totally addictive,” she says with a smile, something we can all relate to.
The future of pickleball in 2025 looks bright, and with athletes like Dahlia Garza, there’s no doubt this sport is in great hands.
