Kaitlynn Hart An Australian Athlete’s Shift from Tennis to Pro Pickleball
The Australian athlete found in pickleball a new pathway to continue competing at a high level. What began as curiosity at a tennis club on the Gold Coast has evolved into an international journey through tournaments, travel, and ambition.
Kaitlynn Hart, from Queensland, Australia, is building her path in professional pickleball after a background in competitive tennis. Yet her story began long before she ever picked up a paddle.
Like many players contributing to the global growth of the sport, Hart transitioned into pickleball after years in tennis.
During her junior years, she competed in tennis across Australia and the Oceania region, building the technical foundation that now shapes her playing style.
Ironically, it was tennis that first introduced her to pickleball.
At first, the sport didn’t immediately capture her interest.
“I thought it was silly,” she recalls with a laugh. At the time she was still fully committed to tennis, although she occasionally helped her coach run pickleball events at the club.
But the sport was growing — and her own journey was about to change.
“My tennis coach was American and he brought pickleball to our tennis venue back home on the Gold Coast,” Hart explains.
The Turning Point
Around 2022, Hart began reconsidering her long-term direction in tennis while staying connected to competition through local events and coaching.
Her competitive career was no longer progressing the way she had hoped, and her life was gradually shifting toward work and university.
However, there was one thing she knew for certain.
She needed a way to remain competitive.
That’s when pickleball started to become a more serious competitive focus.
She started competing in local tournaments, exploring the emerging competitive circuit and discovering a sport that combined strategy, speed, and community.
What initially felt like a complementary sport quickly developed into a central part of her competitive career.
By 2023, pickleball’s global expansion — including emerging team formats and international tournaments — opened new opportunities for players like Hart, bringing greater organization to the sport and introducing prize money opportunities.
For Hart, this moment was significant.
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Pickleball was no longer just a recreational activity — it was becoming a legitimate professional pathway.
“It was the best decision I could have made for myself and for my pickleball career,” she says.
Going All In
In 2024, Hart made the decision to focus more fully on pickleball competition.
She left her job as a full-time tennis coach and also paused her university studies.
Instead, she committed herself to traveling and competing on the pickleball circuit.
Life on the professional circuit is not always easy.
Travel costs, international tournaments, and the financial realities of emerging sports mean that breaking even can sometimes be difficult.
But for Hart, the experience has been worth it.
“It’s been the most rewarding and amazing experience,” she says.
Part Of A New Global Generation
Kaitlynn Hart’s story reflects one of the most notable developments in pickleball: the emergence of a new generation of international players competing across tours and regions.
These athletes are discovering in pickleball a new opportunity to compete at a high level while contributing to the sport’s rapid global expansion.
From Australia to Asia, and across a growing number of international events, Hart continues to build her experience on the professional circuit.
And as she sees it, the journey is only beginning.
The Future Is Wide Open
With determination, talent, and a global mindset, Kaitlynn Hart is writing her story one tournament at a time.
Her transition from tennis to professional pickleball reflects a broader movement happening across the sport: a new generation of international athletes stepping onto the court and helping shape its future.
Her focus is clear — to keep competing, improving, and gaining experience at the professional level while contributing to the sport’s global growth.
Because for players like Kaitlynn Hart, this journey is about more than results.
It is about being part of the generation helping take pickleball to a broader global stage.
“This isn’t the end of the story… it’s just the beginning.”
INTERVIEW
Inside the Mind of Kaitlynn Hart
A quick conversation with one of pickleball’s emerging international players.
DA: What does a typical training day look like for you?
KH: A typical day for me is anywhere from 2–4 hours, usually one or two training sessions at one-on-one drilling sessions focused on hitting a ball, doing drills and practicing different shots. I usually focus on my competition. After that I normally have a gym session focusing mostly on endurance. Depending on how my body is feeling coming into an event, I might also do a doubles session, but that’s not always a priority for me.
DA: What surprised you the most when you first started competing in pickleball after coming from tennis?
KH: I think the biggest surprise for me has been how amazing the pickleball community is. Tennis, especially as a junior, can sometimes be a very lone environment. That hasn’t been my experience at all in pickleball.
DA: How would you describe the atmosphere and energy at pickleball tournaments compared to other sports you’ve experienced?
KH: Pickleball tournaments are a really fun environment. While still being extremely competitive on the court, I can go out there, be loud and really get into the match, knowing that afterwards I walk off the court and talk to fellow players and fans. It’s a really nice atmosphere to be part of.
DA: When you travel to compete, what do you enjoy most about the experience outside the court?
KH: I really enjoy embracing the culture of wherever we are competing. I love being able to try new experiences and meet new people. I think pickleball is a great sport because of the amount of people that come from all different backgrounds, so I get to experience a lot of the world through the sport.
DA: What has been one of your most memorable or special moments in your pickleball journey?
KH: Some of the most memorable moments are winning with people you truly care about. I’ve met some amazing people within the sport, and being able to play doubles with them, share success, and win together is an incredible feeling.
DA: Pickleball is growing worldwide, but around the world many players still discover the sport differently. How have you experienced that growth across regions?
KH: Coming from tennis coaching background, I see pickleball as easier to pick up and easier to introduce to new players. Many countries are still discovering pickleball, but once people start playing, they usually stick with it.
DA: As the next level grows, the sport is also seeing more structure and professionalism. How do you see your role evolving within that growth?
KH: As a young player, I have seen how much the sport has grown, and I’m excited to be part of that growth. I want to keep improving, competing, and representing the sport at a higher level.
DA: A female player is thinking about trying pickleball — what advice would you give them?
KH: It’s not as hard as you think! For the first time, when I stepped on the court everything just flowed. It clicked straight away, and I’m still trying stuff out to see what works best for me.
“Pickleball tournaments are competitive, but the atmosphere remains incredibly fun.”
The Australian athlete found in pickleball a new pathway to continue competing at a high level. What began as curiosity at a tennis club on the Gold Coast has evolved into an international journey through tournaments, travel, and ambition.
Kaitlynn Hart, from Queensland, Australia, is building her path in professional pickleball after a background in competitive tennis. Yet her story began long before she ever picked up a paddle.
Like many players contributing to the global growth of the sport, Hart transitioned into pickleball after years in tennis.
During her junior years, she competed in tennis across Australia and the Oceania region, building the technical foundation that now shapes her playing style.
Ironically, it was tennis that first introduced her to pickleball.
At first, the sport didn’t immediately capture her interest.
“I thought it was silly,” she recalls with a laugh. At the time she was still fully committed to tennis, although she occasionally helped her coach run pickleball events at the club.
But the sport was growing — and her own journey was about to change.
“My tennis coach was American and he brought pickleball to our tennis venue back home on the Gold Coast,” Hart explains.
The Turning Point
Around 2022, Hart began reconsidering her long-term direction in tennis while staying connected to competition through local events and coaching.
Her competitive career was no longer progressing the way she had hoped, and her life was gradually shifting toward work and university.
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However, there was one thing she knew for certain.
She needed a way to remain competitive.
That’s when pickleball started to become a more serious competitive focus.
She started competing in local tournaments, exploring the emerging competitive circuit and discovering a sport that combined strategy, speed, and community.
What initially felt like a complementary sport quickly developed into a central part of her competitive career.
By 2023, pickleball’s global expansion — including emerging team formats and international tournaments — opened new opportunities for players like Hart, bringing greater organization to the sport and introducing prize money opportunities.
For Hart, this moment was significant.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pickleball was no longer just a recreational activity — it was becoming a legitimate professional pathway.
“It was the best decision I could have made for myself and for my pickleball career,” she says.
Going All In
In 2024, Hart made the decision to focus more fully on pickleball competition.
She left her job as a full-time tennis coach and also paused her university studies.
Instead, she committed herself to traveling and competing on the pickleball circuit.
Life on the professional circuit is not always easy.
Travel costs, international tournaments, and the financial realities of emerging sports mean that breaking even can sometimes be difficult.
But for Hart, the experience has been worth it.
“It’s been the most rewarding and amazing experience,” she says.
Part Of A New Global Generation
Kaitlynn Hart’s story reflects one of the most notable developments in pickleball: the emergence of a new generation of international players competing across tours and regions.
These athletes are discovering in pickleball a new opportunity to compete at a high level while contributing to the sport’s rapid global expansion.
From Australia to Asia, and across a growing number of international events, Hart continues to build her experience on the professional circuit.
And as she sees it, the journey is only beginning.
The Future Is Wide Open
With determination, talent, and a global mindset, Kaitlynn Hart is writing her story one tournament at a time.
Her transition from tennis to professional pickleball reflects a broader movement happening across the sport: a new generation of international athletes stepping onto the court and helping shape its future.
Her focus is clear — to keep competing, improving, and gaining experience at the professional level while contributing to the sport’s global growth.
Because for players like Kaitlynn Hart, this journey is about more than results.
It is about being part of the generation helping take pickleball to a broader global stage.
“This isn’t the end of the story… it’s just the beginning.”
INTERVIEW
Inside the Mind of Kaitlynn Hart
A quick conversation with one of pickleball’s emerging international players.
DA: What does a typical training day look like for you?
KH: A typical day for me is anywhere from 2–4 hours, usually one or two training sessions at one-on-one drilling sessions focused on hitting a ball, doing drills and practicing different shots. I usually focus on my competition. After that I normally have a gym session focusing mostly on endurance. Depending on how my body is feeling coming into an event, I might also do a doubles session, but that’s not always a priority for me.
DA: What surprised you the most when you first started competing in pickleball after coming from tennis?
KH: I think the biggest surprise for me has been how amazing the pickleball community is. Tennis, especially as a junior, can sometimes be a very lone environment. That hasn’t been my experience at all in pickleball.
DA: How would you describe the atmosphere and energy at pickleball tournaments compared to other sports you’ve experienced?
KH: Pickleball tournaments are a really fun environment. While still being extremely competitive on the court, I can go out there, be loud and really get into the match, knowing that afterwards I walk off the court and talk to fellow players and fans. It’s a really nice atmosphere to be part of.
DA: When you travel to compete, what do you enjoy most about the experience outside the court?
KH: I really enjoy embracing the culture of wherever we are competing. I love being able to try new experiences and meet new people. I think pickleball is a great sport because of the amount of people that come from all different backgrounds, so I get to experience a lot of the world through the sport.
DA: What has been one of your most memorable or special moments in your pickleball journey?
KH: Some of the most memorable moments are winning with people you truly care about. I’ve met some amazing people within the sport, and being able to play doubles with them, share success, and win together is an incredible feeling.
DA: Pickleball is growing worldwide, but around the world many players still discover the sport differently. How have you experienced that growth across regions?
KH: Coming from tennis coaching background, I see pickleball as easier to pick up and easier to introduce to new players. Many countries are still discovering pickleball, but once people start playing, they usually stick with it.
DA: As the next level grows, the sport is also seeing more structure and professionalism. How do you see your role evolving within that growth?
KH: As a young player, I have seen how much the sport has grown, and I’m excited to be part of that growth. I want to keep improving, competing, and representing the sport at a higher level.
DA: A female player is thinking about trying pickleball — what advice would you give them?
KH: It’s not as hard as you think! For the first time, when I stepped on the court everything just flowed. It clicked straight away, and I’m still trying stuff out to see what works best for me.
“Pickleball tournaments are competitive, but the atmosphere remains incredibly fun.”
