After an impressive run as a varsity athlete with Drexel University’s squash team and a year of professional experience in squash with the Professional Squash Association (PSA), Winnipeg’s Hannah Blatt has pivoted to pickleball’s professional scene. The 24-year-old is in the midst of a jam-packed summer schedule and debut tournaments in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) with Toronto United Pickleball Club.
A multiport athlete growing up, Blatt narrowed down her sport of choice to squash at the age of 12 while living in her home province of Manitoba, Canada. Just one of a few females competing in squash in the province, she often found herself competing against the men—both young and old. Without a school squash team, her practices and playing time occurred before and after school.
Despite the barriers faced, Blatt set and captured a number of records and titles during her years a dedicated squash player. She was a finalist at the National Championships in U-15 and twice at the U-17 levels and placed fourth at the U-17 US Junior Open. She also represented Canada in both the Canada Winter Games and Canada Summer Games for squash and tennis, respectively.
Offered a full scholarship to compete in squash for Drexel University, Blatt wasted no time making an impact on the program, earning MVP in her freshman year and setting the record for the all-time most wins in a season. Blatt was named Drexel’s captain for her third and what turned out to be, final season due to COVID.
“I wasn’t ready to give up squash [following my final year at university],” said Blatt. “It was kind of my identity. I decided to pursue squash to the next level which was the PSA.”
Blatt competed for a year on the PSA circuit and competed in the Pan-American Games, where she podiumed with three medals. After a year as a professional and now living in Florida, she found herself on the pickleball courts. Wanting to re-ignite her competitive spark and connect with others on a social level, Blatt’s focus and commitment to the sport began to grow.
“I was there for four hours in the evenings just playing with friends,” explained Blatt. “Never had I been coached, everybody I met would just teach me the rules and how to play. Fast forward a couple months and I decided that the way I was improving with pickleball, I thought maybe I’d give it a try professionally and hop on the pro circuit and just continue to meet people and enjoy the game as much as I can.”
Blatt stresses that she intends to enjoy her time in pickleball as she progresses in the sport, noting that the pressure she put on herself during her time in squash often hampered her on both the personal and performance sides.
“Right now, I’m loving the sport,” she explained. “It’s almost impossible to get me off the court. You say last game and I end up playing another six games and I’m home two hours later than I thought I would be.”
With a recent debut in her first PPA event in Denver and the CNPL’s Eastern Split with Toronto United—the CNPL’s inaugural draft saw Blatt selected first by Toronto and fourth overall in a field of 32 league-selected players—Blatt sounds ready to establish herself on the professional stage.
“I think what’s important for me in [the CNPL is] to represent Canada because the sport is still growing and it’s the first of those leagues and of these pros starting to play pickleball, so that’s quite special,” added Blatt. “I just want to make sure that I kind of pave a path for anyone wanting to try pickleball or kids starting to play pickleball to know this opportunity is out there.”
Short-term, Blatt’s goals and ambitions include a future selection into Major League Pickleball, podium finishes and bolstering her overall player ranking. Long-term, she is keeping an eye on a potential return to competing on the world stage.
“Down the line, if pickleball is in the Olympics, I’d love to represent Canada…”
Watch more with Hannah, including her approach to a healthy lifestyle and fitness, Major League Pickleball and her No. 4 overall selection to Toronto United PC by clicking HERE.
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