In this Hurricane Tyra Black biography and profile, you’ll find her background, career highlights, rankings, personal life, sponsors, and the key facts that matter most.
Basics
Full Name: Hurricane Tyra Black
Nickname: Hurricane
Nationality: American
Born: March 2, 2001 (Age 25)
Birthplace: Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Height: 5’8″ (172 cm)
Current Residence: Delray Beach, Florida
Playing Style: Right-handed
Year Turned Pro (Pickleball): 2023
Astrological Sign: Pisces
Record
Current PPA Tour Ranking: No. 4 Women’s Doubles (15,400 points)
No. 5 Mixed Doubles: 6,900 points
DUPR Rating: 6.317 (doubles)
Career Tournament Record: 91 tournaments, 682 career matches, 66.3% win rate
Major Achievements:
- 2024 MLP Premier Level Champion (Dallas Flash)
- 2025 MLP Mid-Season Champion (Dallas Flash)
- Gold – Women’s Singles, 2023 Takeya Showcase
- Gold – Women’s Doubles, 2025 PPA Las Vegas Open (with Jorja Johnson)
- 3 PPA gold medals in women’s doubles, 1 gold in singles
- 5 silver medals and 15+ bronze medals on the PPA Tour
- 5 ITF singles titles and 2 ITF doubles titles in professional tennis
- One of the first Black women to reach the top 10 in professional pickleball rankings
Socials
Instagram: @hurricanetblack_ – 39K+ followers
Twitter/X: @Hurricanetblack
MLP Profile: Dallas Flash – Hurricane Tyra Black
PPA Tour Profile: PPA Tour – Hurricane Tyra Black
Business Inquiries: jamie@thisisevolve.com
Bio
Born in Boca Raton to Sylvester Black, who played for the Jamaican Davis Cup team, Tyra grew up where elite sport was the expectation. Trained by Rick Macci — the coach behind Venus and Serena Williams — she won five singles titles on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour before burnout and a harrowing experience during the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey pushed her to walk away.
A close friend introduced her to pickleball that same month. She trained obsessively, defeated world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters at the 2023 Takeya Showcase within months of turning pro, and hasn’t looked back since. She’s now one of the top doubles players on tour and a vocal advocate for diversity in the sport.
Career Timeline:
- 2001: Born in Boca Raton, Florida; nicknamed “Hurricane” at age three
- 2019–2022: Competed on ITF Women’s Circuit; peaked at No. 331 WTA singles ranking
- December 2020: Won ITF doubles title in Antalya, Turkey with Svenja Ochsner
- March 2023: Discovered pickleball through a close friend
- August 2023: Won gold in Women’s Singles, defeating world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters
- 2023–2024: Competed with Miami Pickleball Club in MLP
- 2024: Joined Dallas Flash; won the MLP Premier Level Championship
- 2025: Won PPA Las Vegas Open doubles gold with Jorja Johnson
Personal
Family: Daughter of Sylvester Black (Jamaican Davis Cup tennis player) and Gayal Black; sister of Tornado Alicia Black (professional tennis player)
Early Coaching: Trained by Rick Macci, who also coached Venus and Serena Williams
Background: Grew up in Boca Raton, Florida; family later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia
Residence: Delray Beach, Florida
Hobbies: Nature walks, hiking, exploring nature parks, shopping, animal welfare advocacy
Community Work: Organized a pickleball fundraiser benefiting Second Chance Hounds in Minnesota, a shelter for homeless animals
Philosophy: Day-by-day improvement over long-term goal-setting; focused on being the best version of herself on court without projecting ahead
Partners
Current Paddle:
PIKKL Hurricane Pro Pickleball Paddle – signature model available in 14mm and 16mm, co-designed with PIKKL for hand speed, spin, and power.
Major Sponsors:
- PIKKL (signature paddle sponsor and brand partner)
- Advil Targeted Relief (brand ambassador)
- Dallas Flash / Major League Pickleball (team)
FAQs
How did Hurricane Tyra Black transition so quickly from tennis to pickleball?
She had a strong ITF tennis foundation and trained at an elite level under Rick Macci from a young age. When she found pickleball in March 2023, she committed to 6–12 hours of daily practice and applied her tennis athleticism, footwork, and competitive mindset directly to the new sport. Within months she was defeating the world’s top-ranked player.
Why did Hurricane Tyra Black leave professional tennis?
A combination of burnout, isolation within the tennis environment, and a traumatic experience during the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey prompted a serious rethinking of her priorities. Pickleball’s welcoming community and team-oriented format offered something tennis never did — genuine enjoyment on and off the court.
What did Hurricane Tyra Black accomplish in the 2024 MLP season?
She was a key member of the Dallas Flash’s championship-winning squad alongside JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson, and Augie Ge. Dallas claimed the 2024 MLP Premier Level title with a series victory over the New Jersey 5s at the Vulcan MLP Playoffs in Orlando.
What is Hurricane Tyra Black’s significance beyond her results?
She is one of the first Black women to reach the top 10 in professional pickleball rankings. She actively uses her platform to encourage people of color to enter the sport, citing the contrast between tennis’s isolating atmosphere and the open, diverse community she found in pickleball.
