Tyra Hurricane Black

Her parents nicknamed her "Hurricane" at age three to make her more marketable as a future tennis pro, and honestly? It worked. Tyra Black grew up in Boca Raton, Florida in a serious tennis family - her dad Sylvester played for the Jamaican Davis Cup team, and her sister Tornado Alicia Black is a pro tennis player too (yes, both sisters are named after natural disasters). Coached by the legendary Rick Macci, Tyra climbed to WTA #331 in singles and won five ITF titles before making a surprising pivot to pickleball in March 2023 at just 22. She was literally playing 6 to 12 hours a day in her early pickleball days, and the obsession paid off fast.

Now playing for the Miami Pickleball Club in MLP, Tyra is one of the most feared defensive players on tour. Her court coverage and hand speed at the kitchen are ridiculous, thanks to years of grinding on the tennis court. She beat world #1 Anna Leigh Waters in singles at the 2023 PPA Takeya Showcase, won the 2024 MLP Championship with the Dallas Flash, and currently ranks in the top 5 in both women's doubles and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour. She's sponsored by PIKKL and plays with her signature Hurricane Pro Carbon Fiber paddle. Off the court, she's a big animal lover who has fundraised for homeless pets. Follow her on Instagram @tyrabblack.