PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — At the beginning of her 15+ minute APP Punta Gorday Open recap video , Pro Pickleball player Hanna Blatt looked into the camera and told her audience to "look at the bags under her eyes". The 25-year-old Canadian explained how exhausted she was from a whirlwind three days. She had experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at the Punta Gorda tournament, her first competition of 2024.
Through rain delays, long waits, and more time sitting in her car than playing matches, Blatt persevered. She cherished special moments with family and learned difficult but valuable lessons about maintaining composure and focus despite external pressures. She is still honing her game and working toward consistency.
“There were definitely some frustrations this weekend,” Blatt admitted with a wry smile. But she emphasized the incredible support she received from her grandparents, who went above and beyond to help her through the constantly changing tournament schedule. “I just feel so special and gifted,” she said, eyes watering slightly. “I’m so thankful.”
Nerves and Self-Doubt Give Way to Early Success Blatt described feeling anxious and lacking confidence leading up to her first singles match on Thursday morning. “I was nervous because if I’m not nervous it might mean I don’t care enough,” she explained. The butterflies faded quickly once she stepped on the court, settling into a rhythm within four or five points. Playing cleanly and minimizing errors, Blatt notched an impressive first round victory.
Her next opponent would be the top seed, however, ratcheting up the degree of difficulty. Blatt tightened up, playing tentatively rather than aggressively attacking shots. She fell 11-7, 11-7, noting later she was capable of a better performance if not for some mental barriers. “I was just mentally kind of checked out unfortunately after that one,” she said, clearly disappointed.
Marathon Rain Delays Test Competitor’s Mettle Blatt awoke before dawn on Friday, heading to the venue to warm up for her mixed doubles qualifying match. But the tournament was significantly behind schedule due to rain, so she faced an unexpected two hour delay. After returning from a brief excursion for coffee and breakfast, Blatt learned it would be at least three more hours until play could start.
She and her supportive grandparents resigned themselves to waiting in the car, from 10 am all the way until her 6 pm start time. “Mentally, physically, just exhausting,” she recalled. Once on court, Blatt and her partner struggled to find any rhythm. Their opponents played cleanly to win the abbreviated one-game qualifier.
Despite the setback, Blatt’s grandmother had made dinner reservations at her favorite local restaurant. Laughing, Blatt explained she couldn’t even enjoy a glass of wine after the taxing day because she forgot her ID! But she appreciated the chance to unwind and refocus on the final day of competition.
Early Wake Up Call Precedes Disappointing End A 4:30 am alarm jolted Blatt out of bed on Saturday morning for women’s doubles qualifying. The early start time meant bundling up against the pre-dawn chill. Fortunately, Blatt and her partner recovered from a poor beginning to squeeze out a tense 15-10 victory in their first match.
The elation quickly faded, however, as they came out flat in the second match. By 8:30 am, Blatt’s tournament was over - surprisingly early for such a long and intense lead-up. “All I wanted to do was go home at this point,” Blatt said, failing to keep the frustration out of her tone. She had hoped for a strong performance after struggling in singles and mixed doubles.
Valuable Perspective Gained From Rollercoaster Event In the days since returning home exhausted yet reflecting on a whirlwind three days, Blatt has gained some valuable perspective. “It’s really hard putting in so much work and not seeing quick results,” she noted. “You’ve got to trust the process.” Blatt explained that maintaining realistic expectations and focusing inward are imperative.
“Honestly, you need to focus on yourself, play your game consistently no matter who's on the other side of the net,” she emphasized. Blatt identified this as one of her biggest takeaways, along with immense gratitude for her support system. She lavished praise on her grandparents in particular for their steadfast encouragement and kindness throughout the ups and downs.
What's Next For this Rising Star? When asked about future tournaments, Blatt cracked a sly grin. “I have a couple things in my game I want to work on, tweak, perfect I guess,” she said. She plans to double down on training and address some recent inconsistencies. Blatt will continue competing on the professional pickleball circuit, striving to channel nerves into aggressive shot-making.
Blatt hopes to produce a breakthrough performance at the next tournament. She may have battled self-doubt at times in Punta Gorda, but this fierce young competitor's best is surely yet to come. For now, she's focusing on gradual daily progress and maintaining belief.
“Just keep pushing, try try again,” Blatt emphasized passionately. “Whatever you do, don't quit!” Judging by her determination, this rising talent has barely scratched the surface of her potential. The pickleball world should keep a close eye on Hanna Blatt in 2024 and beyond.
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