Gabriel Tardio - Pro Pickleball Player Biography & Profile

In this Gabriel Tardio biography and profile, you’ll find his background, rankings, career highlights, playing style, sponsors, and the key facts that matter most.

Table of Contents

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Basics

Full Name: Gabriel “Gabe” Tardio
Nationality: Bolivian
Born: August 29, 2005 (Age 19)
Birthplace: Bolivia
Height: 6’1″ (185 cm) / 6’2″ (187 cm)
Current Residence: Jupiter, Florida
Playing Style: Right-handed with unconventional grip (holds paddle higher on handle)
Year Turned Pro: 2022
Languages: Spanish and English
Career Prize Money: Estimated $300,000+ (2024 earnings)
Astrological Sign: Virgo

Record

Current DUPR Rating: 6.985 (World #4)
PPA Tour Rankings: #1 Men’s Doubles | #14 Singles
MLP Status: Active professional competitor

2024 Career Achievements:

Triple Gold Medals – PPA Utah Open and PPA Las Vegas Cup
Men’s Doubles Gold – PPA Kansas City Open (with Federico Staksrud)
7 Men’s Doubles Medals – 4 Gold, 3 Silver on PPA Tour
2 Mixed Doubles Medals – Including bronze at Chase APP Miami Open
MLP Semifinals – Newport Beach and San Clemente events
Partnership with Ben Johns – Formed world’s #1 men’s doubles team (2025)

Tournament Statistics:

PPA Doubles Points: 14,600 (2nd place)
Mixed Doubles Points: 6,200 (5th place)
Singles Points: 3,162.5
Career Win Rate: 75%+

Socials

Instagram: @gabe_tardio – 50K+ followers
Facebook: @GabeTardioPB – 2.4k+ followers
PPA Tour Profile: Gabriel Tardio
MLP Profile: Gabriel Tardio

Bio

Gabriel “Gabe” Tardio represents the new generation of elite pickleball talent, transforming from a tennis prodigy in Bolivia to one of the world’s top pickleball professionals. Introduced to pickleball at age 14 by his grandfather, the duo built two pickleball courts in their home country, sparking Gabe’s passion for the sport.

A former top-10 under-14 tennis player in Bolivia, Gabe made the strategic decision to transition to pickleball when he moved to the United States. His rapid ascension through the professional ranks culminated in becoming one of the youngest players to crack the world’s top 5 at just 19 years old.

Career Timeline:

2005: Born in Bolivia
2019: Introduced to pickleball by grandfather at age 14
2020: Built two pickleball courts in Bolivia with grandfather
2021: Moved to Jupiter, Florida; played daily after school
2022: Turned professional at age 17 (youngest on tour)
2024: Breakout season with 9 total medals across PPA/APP tours
2025: Partnered with Ben Johns; signed 3-year $800K contract extension

Personal

Family: Close relationship with grandfather, who introduced him to pickleball; brother Matias, who provides strong support
Education: Completed high school while pursuing a professional pickleball career
Training Base: Jupiter, Florida – epicenter of professional pickleball
Background: Former elite tennis player, top-10 under-14 in Bolivia
Playing Philosophy: “Pickleball is such a fast sport, but at the same time you have to be patient. It’s fast and patient.”
Career Motivation: Inspired by the sport’s growth potential and competitive challenge
Community Impact: First Bolivian professional pickleball star, representing his country on the international stage

Partners

Current Paddle:

Facolos EliteX (signed January 2026)

Major Sponsors:

PIKKL – Primary paddle and equipment sponsor
Paddletek – Professional paddle partnership
PPA Tour – 3-year exclusive contract through 2027
Major League Pickleball – Active team competitor

Business Ventures:

Contract Extension: 3-year $800,000 deal with PPA Tour and MLP (2025-2027)
Partnership Premium: Ben Johns’ partnership significantly increased the market value
Social Media Influence: Growing brand presence with 50K+ Instagram followers
International Representation: First Bolivian professional pickleball star

FAQs

What paddle does Gabriel Tardio currently use in 2026?

Tardio switched to Facolos EliteX Pro Series paddle in January 2026 after leaving PIKKL. The multi-year sponsorship deal runs through 2027 with this Vietnamese brand entering the U.S. market.

What makes Tardio’s paddle grip technique so unique?

Tardio holds his paddle higher up the handle toward the neck, creating unconventional angles and power generation. He uses a modified continental grip with slight wrist twist for his signature backhand counter.

Did Tardio’s grandfather really build pickleball courts?

Yes—at age 14 in Bolivia, Tardio’s grandfather introduced him to pickleball and together they built two courts. This family bonding experience sparked the passion that launched his professional career just three years later.

How many brothers does Gabriel Tardio have playing pickleball?

Tardio has brothers Matias and Andres who both play competitive pickleball at the 5.0 level. Matias became famous as an enthusiastic STL Shock MLP fan, showing incredible brother-of-the-year energy supporting Gabriel.

What’s Tardio’s current DUPR rating and world ranking?

As of January 2026, Tardio holds a 6.985 DUPR rating, ranking him #4 globally. He’s ranked #1 in PPA Tour men’s doubles with 20,300 points, surpassing even Ben Johns temporarily.