Rising Star Ava Ignatowich Commits to PPA Tour While Balancing College
Introduction
Ava Ignatowich is an upcoming professional pickleball player who recently signed with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). In a new YouTube interview, she provides background on her tennis upbringing, plans for balancing pro pickleball and college, her relationship with her brother James who plays on a rival pro tour, and her goals and vision for the future.
About Ava Ignatowich
Ava Ignatowich is a 21-year-old pickleball player who has taken the sport by storm over the past few years. Originally from Delray Beach, Florida, she comes from a tennis family and was homeschooled along with her brothers to focus on tennis training. She went on to play college tennis for two years at Davidson College before transferring to the University of Miami to be near her family.
Key Topics Covered
In her recent interview on the XPickle YouTube channel, Ava opens up about her background in tennis, decision to pursue professional pickleball, how she'll balance touring and college, her relationship with her brother James who competes on a different pro tour, and her vision and goals as she establishes her pro pickleball career.
Chapter 1: Ava's Tennis Background and Family
Pickleball pro Ava Ignatowich actually grew up playing competitive junior tennis, since she comes from a full-on tennis family. Her parents were set on their four kids becoming professional tennis players.
1.1 Hometown and Family in Delray Beach, Florida
Ava Ignatowich visited her parents in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida for this interview. She is originally from Delray Beach, where her parents still live currently.
1.2 Entire Family Played Competitive Tennis
Ava revealed that her whole family played competitive tennis growing up. Her parents wanted Ava and her three brothers to become professional tennis players. She and her older brother James played junior tournaments together, while her two younger brothers are still in school but transitioning to pickleball.
1.3 Homeschooled to Focus on Tennis
A key part of Ava's tennis upbringing was homeschooling. She and her older brother James did online school so they could focus on tennis training all day long. With a curriculum tailored around tennis, they were able to practice and play for hours each day in perfect Florida weather.
Chapter 2: College Tennis and Transferring to Miami
Before pickleball, Ava Ignatowich played college tennis for two years. She ended up transferring universities to be closer to her family in South Florida.
2.1 Played 2 Years at Davidson College
Ava completed her first two years of college at Davidson College in North Carolina, where she played on the varsity tennis team. This gave her experience competing at a high level in college athletics.
2.2 Transferred to University of Miami to Be Near Family
After two years at Davidson, Ava decided to transfer closer to home at the University of Miami. She said she missed her family and the warm weather in South Florida during her time in North Carolina. The move brought her back near her parents and brothers.
2.3 Took Gap Year to Focus on Pickleball
In transitioning from Davidson to Miami, Ava took a gap year to focus on pickleball. She used the time off from school to improve her pickleball skills and prepare to transfer to a new university.
Chapter 3: Balancing Pro Pickleball and College
Now that she has committed to play professionally, Ava Ignatowich will take on the challenge of balancing touring life and academics. Her college degree remains a priority amidst her new PPA contract.
3.1 Committed to Play 20 PPA Tournaments in 2024
With her sights set on a pro pickleball career, Ava recently signed a contract to compete on the Professional Pickleball Association tour. She agreed to play in 20 PPA tournaments throughout the 2024 season, which will be her first full year on tour.
3.2 Still Plans to Finish College Degree
Even as she takes on more events, Ava plans to stay enrolled in school and finish her economics degree at the University of Miami. Now a junior, she hopes to graduate in just two more years if possible.
3.3 Excellent Time Management Skills Will Be Key
Playing professional pickleball while completing a rigorous academic program will require stellar time management abilities. But Ava feels up for the challenge, given her experience as a Division 1 college athlete which helped hone those skills.
Chapter 4: Sibling Rivalry with Brother James?
Ava Ignatowich's brother James is also a professional pickleball player, although he competes primarily on a rival tour. But Ava asserts they have no sibling rivalry.
4.1 James is Ava's Ideal Mixed Doubles Partner
According to Ava, her brother James would be her ideal mixed doubles partner. They know each other's games extremely well from years of playing together. She says they have a great rapport on the court.
4.2 Siblings Picked Different Professional Tours
Interestingly though, James helped connect Ava with the PPA, while he decided to pursue the MLP Tour himself. So the siblings will be competing on different pro circuits as they both turn pro.
4.3 Excited to See James on Pro Tours
But Ava maintains she is excited to be on the pro tours with James and hopes they have opportunities to play some events together along the way. Their sibling bond remains strong despite taking different career paths.
Chapter 5: Ava's Goals and Vision for Her Pro Career
As she embarks on her pro journey, Ava Ignatowich has some clear goals in mind. She also maintains a long-term vision for her pickleball career.
5.1 Wants to Be Top 10 in Her First Year on Tour
For 2024, her first full season on the PPA Tour, Ava has set a goal of finishing the year ranked in the top 10. She knows it will take immense effort, but believes she can get there through hard work.
5.2 Plans to Pursue Pro Pickleball Career after College
Looking at the big picture, Ava hopes to play professionally long-term. She has lost interest in economics and sees pickleball as her true passion now. The plan is to pursue pro pickleball full-time after earning her degree.
5.3 Focused on Continual Improvement
In both the short and long-term, Ava remains focused on improving all aspects of her game. She wants to maximize events and training in preparation for the challenge of competing on the professional tours.
Conclusion
Ava Ignatowich looks poised for great success as she branches out into professional pickleball. Her background as a junior tennis standout and college athlete gives her a terrific foundation. Now on the PPA Tour, she has the skills and work ethic to rise up the rankings if she can strike the right balance between touring and academics. With her brother James also going pro, it will be exciting to watch the siblings develop on the sport's top stages. The key for Ava will be steady improvement through match play and high-intensity training while applying the same diligence she displays on the court to earning her college degree in the coming years.
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