JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As pickleball continues to be the fastest-growing sport in the United States, tennis courts are increasingly being converted into pickleball courts. It started to pay off, as more kids aspire to become professional picklers, like Robby Rivera, the only child in Florida sponsored by HEAD.
"A lot of my friends say it's super easy. Yeah, they're right, it’s really easy to get into it and learn it. But, moving up, it gets difficult," Rivera said.
That difficulty is part of the journey, which began for Rivera as a vacation activity just three years ago.
"Mom booked a vacation in Port St. Lucie, and they had some courts down there. We just got thrown into some mini tournaments. We had no idea what we were doing when we were playing," Rivera recalled.
After that vacation, Rivera made his dad his first doubles partner — and his biggest motivator.
"When we first started tournaments, it was me and my dad. You know, we were losing, and at that time, my dad was kicking my butt. He was moving me all around the court in singles. And for a while, I was getting super upset that he was better than me because he's not supposed to be. But now, I've surpassed him in my game," Rivera said.
For Robby’s parents, their roles have evolved as his passion for the sport has grown. The family even built a court at their home to support his development.
"We started, just he and I having fun with the game, and he's taken it seriously, so we've been committed. We've done tournaments in California, Texas, Naples, and Atlanta," said Rob Rivera, Robby’s father.
For now, kids like Robby can only dream of going pro, but universities such as the University of North Florida have already formed club teams. It may not be long before pickleball earns NCAA certification, giving youth athletes an opportunity not only to go pro but also to secure an education through the sport.