Former Miami Palmetto High tennis standout makes quick rise in pro pickleball
Brooke Revuelta, who had trained in tennis for almost her entire life – from age four to 17 – had a stunning pair of revelations for her mother during a fairly recent conversation.
1: She no longer wanted to play tennis; and …
2: She didn’t want to go to college – at least not right away.
The reason for Revuelta’s change of course is pickleball, which is America’s fastest growing sport. (That’s according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.)
On an invitation from friends, Revuelta first picked up a pickleball paddle in January of 2023.
“I thought it was an old person’s sport,” said Revuelta, 18. “I went to a (recreational) tournament (in Coral Springs) not even knowing the rules, and I fell in love with the sport.”
Despite her new love of pickleball, Revuelta stuck with tennis through April of 2023, when she helped Miami Palmetto High win a state championship.
In July, she played her first pro pickleball tournament, in Denver, where she gave superstar Anna Leigh Waters – who is ranked No. 1 in the world -- quite a match before losing 11-8, 11-9.
“She’s a great player,” Revuelta said of Waters, who has been playing for about six years. “I can’t wait to play her again.”
In August, Revuelta talked with her mother, Michelle Gonzalez, about her plans to take pickleball as far as possible.
This was a jolt to Gonzalez.
“That whole year we had been touring Division I colleges, talking to coaches and checking out tennis teams across the U.S.,” Gonzalez said. “When she broke the news to me, I was shocked.
“But, at the same time, I had a lot of questions. I didn’t know much about pickleball.”
Gonzalez gave her daughter one year to see if this new venture could succeed.
As it turns out, Revuelta didn’t need a whole year. Earlier this month (Feb. 16-18), Revuelta won the overall gold medal at APP Next Gen in San Antonio, pocketing $2,500.
Revuelta, a lefty who is coached by Mario Figueredo, trains six times a week for four-plus hours per day.
She is finishing her final year as a home-schooled student, which allows her to focus on pickleball.
Revuelta, who travels with her mother, has already played pro pickleball in California, Arizona, Texas and Hawaii – and that’s just in the first two months of 2024.
Because she does not yet have a sponsor, the travel costs – airfare, hotels and more – come out of Revuelta’s winnings.
The financial aspect of Revuelta’s decision to drop tennis is fascinating.
Revuelta said she had college scholarship interest from schools such as Bellarmine University, which has a four-year tuition total valued at $188,000.
However, while she won’t get that tennis scholarship, Revuelta said she will attend college, even if it’s online.
“Skipping college is not an option,” said Revuelta, who is interested in studying sports media/marketing.
On the plus side of Revuelta’s decision, she is getting in on the ground floor of pickleball with the hopes of becoming a star in the sport and thus cashing in on some big checks.
In addition, she is getting a real-world education due to her travels. She is making friends in the tight-knit pickleball community, and she is bonding with her mother, a publicist who works remotely.
As for all the money her family – including her father, Valentin Revuelta – spent on tennis lessons for all those years, Brooke Revuelta said that did not go to waste.
“I would not be where I am in pickleball,” Revuelta said, “without my background in tennis.”
In pickleball, Revuelta is an aggressive player with excellent hands. She is also quite strategic.
“When I first started, I was impatient,” Revuelta said. “I just wanted to smack the ball. Coming from a tennis background, dinking was not normal for me.
“Now, I pick my spots. I can change speeds and play a smart style.”
PICKLE POINTS
▪ Tropical Park, which has four free and dedicated (pickleball only) courts, is due to add eight more, with lights, by April or May. This will be a huge help as Tropical is always overloaded with players.
▪ More than 1,000 players are expected to compete at the Miami Pickleball Open, set for March 20-24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
▪ Joe Bilella, a 64-year-old who is retired from his career as a sales consultant, has been playing pickleball since 2018. Known for his trademark gray hair, Billela has taught many people the game.
“I like the friendships I’ve made in pickleball,” said Billela, who plays in Miami at Sabal Chase and Water Oaks. “And there’s less wear and tear on my knees. I used to play basketball but not since I had both hips replaced.”
▪ Lourdes Wolf Marenus, who is, among other things, a 65-year-old grandmother to AJ and a retired business system analyst, has been playing since 2018. Marenus, who has a lethal forehand, plays in Miami at Miller Park, at Coral Pines and at Salvation Army.
“I couldn’t play tennis anymore because of multiple knee surgeries,” she said. “I love pickleball because it’s highly social. Win or lose, you know you’re going to have fun.”
If anyone has a suggestion for a future pickleball column, please contact Walter Villa at: wvilla07@yahoo.com.
