Engel Angle: What are your thoughts on the encroachment of pickleball into the world of tennis?
Anna Bright: I definitely think it's a really complicated issue. Of course, tennis is such a classic game with so much history, and people who play it take a lot of pride in that—understandably so. I know I did. But I think pickleball is like a freight train that, at this point, can't be stopped.
I don’t really have a problem with underutilized tennis courts being converted to pickleball courts. It’s largely a matter of real estate. On one tennis court, you can put up to four pickleball courts. While you might have two to four people playing tennis, you could have up to 16 people enjoying pickleball.
That said, I hope more dedicated pickleball facilities open around the country so active tennis courts aren’t being uprooted. But the reality is that pickleball is exploding in popularity, and people love it. I feel like tennis, as a whole, will need to undergo a kind of revival if it doesn’t want to see more of its courts converted.
Engel Angle: When you say “revival,” what do you mean? As someone who grew up with tennis, do you still play?
Anna Bright: Not at all, which is very common for people who transitioned to pickleball after starting with tennis.
Engel Angle: You had a strong background in tennis and attended Berkeley on a tennis scholarship, correct?
Anna Bright: Yes, that’s correct.
Engel Angle: Tennis was clearly good to you, and you gave a lot to it. What can the sport do to experience a boost—or even a Renaissance—in light of pickleball’s surging popularity?
Anna Bright: I’m not really in that world anymore, but I think it starts with programs to get kids playing. Growing up in Fort Worth, there were often kids’ programs on the high school tennis courts near my house, and they were always in use. Now, when I drive around schools in my area, I see these courts sitting empty.
Youth programs and creating better development pathways are key. For example, in Texas, the tennis system was more segregated by skill level, which helped me grow. But in some states, it’s not structured that way. You might have 8- or 10-year-olds playing against the top 12-year-olds in tournaments, which can be discouraging. That’s one reason my sister stopped playing tennis after we moved to Florida—she had to face kids way more advanced than she was.
I think tennis needs to invest in youth infrastructure, which pickleball is also working on right now. Pickleball doesn’t yet have strong youth divisions—it’s mostly segmented for adults (25+, 35+, etc.). But now we’re seeing tours develop youth leagues and pathways. Tennis already has some groundwork in this area but could definitely improve.
Engel Angle: So, you see youth development as critical for both sports?
Anna Bright: Absolutely. Tennis is a hard game to pick up as an adult. That’s something pickleball has going for it. You’ve got people with no racket-sport background falling in love with pickleball. Tennis, on the other hand, is much more challenging to learn later in life. It’s not impossible, but it’s significantly harder.
If tennis wants to thrive, it has to start with kids. Programs that make the sport accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable for young players are going to be essential.
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Anna Bright on Pickleball’s Rise and Tennis’ Future
As pickleball surges in popularity, the former tennis standout offers her perspective on the evolving dynamics between the two sports.
When Anna Bright traded her tennis racket for a pickleball paddle, she did more than pivot to a new sport—she joined a movement reshaping the athletic landscape. Bright, once ranked among the top collegiate tennis players in the nation at the University of California, Berkeley, now stands as one of pickleball’s most promising talents. Known for her aggressive, attacking style and two-handed backhand, she has claimed numerous professional titles.
On a recent episode of the Engel Angle podcast, Bright reflected on pickleball’s rise and its effects on tennis, the sport where she first built her identity. “Pickleball is like a freight train that can’t be stopped,” she said. “It’s exploding because people love it. But tennis has so much history and pride, and I think it will need a revival if it wants to protect its space.”
Pickleball’s Growth: A Double-Edged Sword for Tennis
Bright doesn’t mince words about the practicalities of the debate: real estate. “On one tennis court, you can put up to four pickleball courts. You could have 16 people happily playing pickleball where only two to four might be playing tennis,” she explained.
As empty tennis courts are increasingly converted to pickleball facilities, tensions between the two sports have escalated. Bright acknowledges the frustration of tennis players but believes the solution lies in building more dedicated pickleball facilities rather than uprooting active tennis spaces. Still, she cautioned that tennis will need to adapt. “If tennis doesn’t evolve, more courts will be converted,” she said.
The Case for a Tennis Revival
For Bright, tennis’s challenge isn’t just competition from pickleball—it’s its own accessibility. “Tennis is a hard game to pick up as an adult,” she noted. “That’s something pickleball has on it. People with no racket-sport background are falling in love with pickleball. Tennis? Much harder.”
Bright believes the key to tennis’s longevity lies in engaging young players. Reflecting on her own experience growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, she pointed to active youth programs as a driving force behind her love for the game. “I grew up with high school courts full of kids’ programs,” she said. “Now, I drive by high schools and see courts sitting empty. That needs to change.”
She also highlighted the need for more structured development pathways. “In some states, kids as young as eight are competing against top-tier 12-year-olds in tournaments, which can be discouraging. That’s one reason my sister stopped playing after we moved to Florida,” Bright explained.
Tennis, she said, has the groundwork in place but needs to modernize and invest in youth programs to retain its relevance. “It starts with kids. Programs that make tennis accessible and enjoyable will be essential.”
What Tennis Can Learn from Pickleball
Bright sees parallels between the challenges tennis faces and the opportunities pickleball is just beginning to navigate. While pickleball has captivated adults, it’s still working to create meaningful pathways for young players. “Right now, pickleball doesn’t have youth divisions—it’s mostly segmented for adults,” she said. “But now tours are developing youth leagues and pathways, which will be critical for its growth.”
Both sports, Bright believes, must prioritize youth engagement to secure their futures. While pickleball has the momentum, tennis has the infrastructure—if it can evolve.
A Trailblazer’s Perspective
Bright’s journey from tennis to pickleball reflects broader trends in the athletic world. After a standout collegiate career at Berkeley, where she led her team in singles wins in 2021, she began playing pickleball with her parents in late 2021. Within months, she emerged as a top competitor, known for her fiery play and resilience.
Off the court, she has completed the grueling Pacific Crest Trail, a 113-day trek from Mexico to Canada, a testament to her determination. She also represents the global brand Joola, which produces her signature paddle.
Despite her shift in focus, Bright’s insights into tennis come from a place of deep respect and experience. “Tennis was really good to me,” she said. “But pickleball offers something fresh and exciting. Both sports have a place, but they’ll need to grow in different ways to thrive.”
In-Depth Summary
Anna Bright’s story is emblematic of the shifting dynamics between tennis and pickleball. A former collegiate tennis standout, Bright has become one of pickleball’s rising stars, known for her attacking style and competitive spirit. In this interview, she addressed the complicated relationship between the two sports, acknowledging pickleball’s rapid growth and its impact on tennis.
Bright believes pickleball’s success stems from its accessibility and social appeal, which attract players of all ages, even those without a background in racket sports. Conversely, tennis faces challenges in retaining relevance, particularly among youth. Bright emphasized the importance of youth programs and structured development pathways as key to revitalizing tennis and maintaining its identity.
While Bright champions pickleball, she respects tennis’s legacy and hopes both sports can find their own paths to growth. Her perspective, shaped by her unique journey across both worlds, offers a thoughtful lens on how these sports can coexist in an evolving athletic landscape.
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