Pablo Tellez

Pablo Tellez went from winning an NCAA Division II tennis championship at the University of West Florida to going 0-8 in his first-ever pickleball tournament. That humbling debut in December 2019 in Naples, Florida, only fueled the Colombian-born lefty's competitive fire. He entered that tournament on impulse, without a paddle or any pickleball experience, and walked away hooked on the sport. Fast forward to today, and Tellez is a top-10 men's player on the PPA Tour and a key member of the Brooklyn Aces in Major League Pickleball.

Tellez's left-handedness and crafty shot-making, honed through years of elite tennis in Colombia where he ranked in the national top three, give him a unique edge on the court. He went full-time pro around 2022 and has been climbing the ranks ever since, recently medaling in men's doubles at major PPA events. When he's not touring, he teaches pickleball at a country club in Naples, FL, and hangs out with his two German Shepherds. His rapid rise from 0-8 rookie to top-10 contender might be the best comeback story in pickleball.