Ex-Olympian Tina Pisnik Joins the PPA Tour for 2024

Tina Pisnik’s tennis days were over.

It had been about 15 years since she last competed against some of the game’s best, wrapping up a career in which she was ranked among the top 30 women’s tennis players in the world. She had won a title on the WTA Tour, had represented her country of Slovenia in the Olympics, and earned nearly $1 million in prizes competing at the highest level for 16 years.

Back in Slovenia, Pisnik is a star – a celebrity that young fans clamor to get a picture with. Here, in the U.S., Pisnik left playing tennis behind and instead, began teaching it. She was in her second decade as an instructor when one of her friends told her about pickleball. Her response wasn’t out of the ordinary. In fact, it’s a pretty common one.

“I was like, ‘I’m not getting into that old-people sport,” Pisnik remembered. “But she convinced me and I went. At first, I thought, ‘OK, this is a decent workout,’ but after I played my first tournament, I was hooked. I forgot how much I missed competing.”

That was then. Now, Pisnik is back on the court competing – as a PPA Tour signed pickleball player with an impressive sports background.

Pisnik’s father played soccer for the Slovenian National Team and her mother was a high-level gymnast. 

“I think competing was always part of my family growing up,” she said. “Just playing tennis, being in that environment of playing tournaments almost every week from a young age.”

Well, she’s not young anymore – at least, not compared to most of the women on tour. Pisnik is 42, but she was able to earn her first medal this past summer, finishing second in mixed doubles with another European – seasoned pro Pat Smith.

“My background helps me with the mental part and discipline to put the work in to be able to be out there with players half my age,” she said, definitely adding that being older isn’t an advantage. “My biggest personal win in all of this is to have motivation to get up in the morning, do yoga, go to practice, enjoy traveling to the tournaments and competing.”

Pisnik’s wife, Maja Topolovec travels alongside with her and manages her schedule, social media, and endorsements. Sharing the load of a professional career with a partner is something that many of the top pros have found to be a system that works with – see Tyson and Meg McGuffin, Callie and Kyle Smith, Thomas and Brittany Wilson – the list goes on.

While Pisnik is finding pickleball later than some, her background, success, and resume are as good as anyone’s on the PPA Tour. Playing in the Olympics is something that tops the list.

“That’s a whole different animal than all other tournaments,” Pisnik said. “First, to represent your country and just be a part of the biggest sporting event in the world, with all the other best athletes in all the sports.”

Olympics for pickleball may not be all that far away, with sister racquet sport squash getting confirmed for the 2028 Olympics just this week. For now, Pisnik is competing against the best pickleball players in the world all over the U.S.

“I am not gonna lie, medals are fun and exciting, but they are a product of hard work and dedication,” Pisnik said. “I have been busy focusing on developing players in the past 15 years, and I almost forgot about myself. So I’m improving myself, my game, just enjoying the journey. And get a few more medals.”