Altaf Merchant

Altaf Merchant is proof that you can crush it on the pickleball court and in the boardroom at the same time. A Senior Vice President at UBS Financial by day, Merchant has built one of the most impressive resumes in senior pro pickleball, including a jaw-dropping 59-0 undefeated season in 2023. He is a 5x medalist at the US Open Pickleball Championships (with 3 golds), has earned multiple PPA Tour gold medals, and has been ranked in the top 25 in the world for men's doubles.

Originally from India, Merchant was a top nationally ranked tennis player there before competing in Division I tennis at Southern Illinois University. He even represented India at the prestigious Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships. That elite tennis foundation translates perfectly to his pickleball game, where he combines textbook technique with an infectious energy that fans love. His signature celebration, the hip thrust, has become legendary in the senior pro circuit. When he is not competing, Merchant is working to bring world-class pickleball facilities to his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, through a nonprofit initiative. He plays with an Evoke Premier paddle as part of Team ONIX.