Los Angeles roots · Division I tennis
From UCLA and SMU tennis to the professional pickleball tour
Hovenier was raised in Los Angeles and played five seasons of NCAA Division I tennis. He spent four years at UCLA before completing a graduate season at SMU, where he earned a master’s degree in finance.
After becoming interested in pickleball during the summer of 2023, Hovenier turned professional in 2024. His height, reach and college-trained movement helped him move quickly into PPA and Major League Pickleball competition.
PLAYING PROFILE
How did Blaine Hovenier adapt his tennis game to pickleball?
Hovenier brought college-trained movement, reach and athletic preparation into pickleball, then focused on the net positioning, fast hands and feel shots that differ from his baseline-oriented tennis game.