The Rise of Pickleball: A New Path for Former Tennis Players in India
Pickleball: A Fresh Start for Ex-Tennis Players
In recent times, it's become increasingly common to see tennis players transitioning to pickleball, a trend that has gained momentum globally. Many top players in the pickleball arena have backgrounds in tennis, and this phenomenon is evident in India as well. For those who faced challenges in continuing their tennis careers, pickleball has provided a renewed opportunity to enjoy racquet sports. Some players returned to the courts after years, while others found pickleball to be a more appealing alternative.
Amrita Mukherjee, a former tennis player and ex-captain of the India Davis Cup team from Kolkata, stands out as a prominent figure who has successfully made her mark in pickleball. Despite her achievements in pickleball, she maintains a strong connection to tennis, actively coaching and contributing to the sport. "For me, it has never really been a complete ‘switch’ from tennis to pickleball. Tennis continues to remain a huge part of my life - both as a former professional player and now as a coach, including stints coaching the Junior Indian Tennis Teams. Tennis is the sport that shaped me, both as an athlete and as a person, and it laid the foundation for whatever success I’ve had in pickleball," she shared.
Amrita expressed that the thrill of being on the court was a significant void in her life until she discovered pickleball. Now a gold medallist at the Pickleball World Cup, she highlighted how the sport reignited her passion for competition. "Pickleball has given many former tennis players like me a chance to rediscover the joy of competing. Once you’ve played competitive sport seriously, that feeling never really leaves you - the pressure, strategy, adrenaline, problem-solving, and the mental battle of being out there on court. Pickleball brought some of that feeling back into my life in a very special way," she noted.
Having been a promising junior player, Amrita represented India at the Junior Federation Cup in 2010 and won two Asian Under-14 tournaments. She articulated the struggles faced by Indian tennis players, which often lead them to consider more viable options like pickleball. "Tennis is arguably one of the toughest sports in the world, and nothing can truly replace it," she remarked. "However, making a living solely from playing tennis is a supremely challenging goal; only perhaps the top 100 players in the world can do that. This is where pickleball becomes such an attractive option to tennis players - it can definitely become a second sporting pathway - with more opportunities through sponsorships, media visibility, prize money, or simply staying connected to high-level sport," she explained.
Amrita expressed her gratitude towards pickleball for allowing athletes to continue their sporting journeys. "At the end of the day, most of us simply love being athletes and love being on court. And I think many of us owe a lot to pickleball for giving us the opportunity to experience that once again. Pickleball gave me the chance to represent the country, in an entirely different sport, and be part of some amazing communities, forever grateful for that!"
'Pickleball humbled me quickly'
Danielle Jones, another pickleball enthusiast from Kolkata, shared similar sentiments. After a 15-year hiatus from tennis, she found joy in pickleball, which felt like a rediscovery of a part of herself. "I stopped playing tennis more than 15 years ago, so pickleball wasn’t a direct transition for me; it felt more like an unexpected return to a part of myself I had left behind," she explained. Danielle has also engaged in various sports, including football, basketball, and state-level rugby, but missed the mental challenge that racquet sports provide.
She was captivated by pickleball's blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements, appreciating its social nature and strategic depth. However, she quickly realized that pickleball is more demanding than it appears. "What struck me immediately was how deceptive it is. It is emotionally demanding. It humbled me quickly," she admitted. Now a regular competitor in India's domestic pickleball scene, Danielle is thankful for the sport's role in reigniting her passion for racquet sports. Securing a deal in the inaugural season of the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) was transformative for her, exposing her to a professional environment that accelerated her growth as a player.
As the professional landscape of pickleball continues to evolve in India and globally, with the upcoming Pickleball World Cup set to take place in Asia for the first time, Danielle is eager to push her limits further. "Sometimes the game you meet later in life ends up understanding you better than the one you started with," she reflected.
Dev Shah, a young pickleball player and World Cup medallist, is among those who have embraced pickleball early in their careers. He shared, "Pickleball has played a major role in my sporting career and my overall life and wellbeing as a whole. It not only pushes my limits to be better but also motivates me to achieve something. It has set clear goals for me in my life, helping me stay consistent in my daily activities and giving me something to look forward to."
'We stopped improving in tennis'
Pickleball thrives at the intersection of tennis’ rigidity and its own flexibility. Arup Mullick, who competes in the 30+ category, openly discussed his decision to switch to pickleball, reflecting a broader issue within Indian tennis. "In our age, it is a second leash of sporting life. We quit after we stopped improving in tennis after a certain age," the 38-year-old stated. Inspired by tennis legend Andre Agassi, who has actively promoted the sport worldwide, Arup noted that pickleball offers opportunities for improvement well into one's later years. "Pickleball gives you a chance to improve at it till you are past 50, as proven by the Great Andre Agassi himself. Every 10 minutes you apparently keep improving, which is one of the reasons why it is such an addictive sport, apart from the social connections that you also get to make at this age," he added, having trained at Leander Paes' academy.