Meet Team HIT

Hunter, born and raised in the picturesque ski town of Taos, New Mexico, embarked on a remarkable athletic journey that began with a deep passion for tennis. He pursued his dreams at the collegiate level, earning a scholarship to play Division I tennis at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. Alongside his twin brother Yates, Hunter etched their names in school history as the winningest doubles team, achieving a career-high ranking of 15 in the country in doubles and 30 in singles.

Following graduation, Hunter dedicated four years to honing his skills on the Tennis Pro Tour in doubles, where he notched an impressive tally of 14 professional titles, including victories over top players like Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. One of the highlights of his career was the opportunity to practice with the legendary Roger Federer. Despite reaching a career-high ATP Doubles ranking of 198 in the world, Hunter made the difficult decision to bid farewell to tennis at the end of 2021, transitioning along with his twin brother to compete full-time in professional pickleball.

Approaching his 5th season, Hunter has reached the pinnacle of professional pickleball, earning the title of the #1 Singles player in the world. To date, Hunter has earned 13 medals in singles on the PPA tour including 6 golds, 3 silvers and 4 bronze. Hunter's goals for 2026 are to continue his dominant success in singles as well as make similar strides on the doubles courts.

Yates Johnson’s journey from the world of professional tennis to the realm of competitive pickleball is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the picturesque ski town of Taos, New Mexico, Yates and his identical twin brother, Hunter, immersed themselves in a variety of sports, including tennis, skiing, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Their dedication to tennis paid off when they earned a scholarship to play Division 1 tennis at SMU in Dallas, Texas, where he also obtained his degree. Alongside his brother Hunter, Yates achieved unprecedented success on the tennis court, becoming the most successful doubles team in the history of SMU. Their remarkable partnership culminated in a career-high doubles ranking of 15 in the country, showcasing their formidable skills on the court.

After graduating from college in 2017, Yates and Hunter made the leap to the professional tennis circuit, competing as a dynamic doubles duo on the ATP tour for four years. Their journey took them across the globe, with over 20 countries as their playground. Along the way, they amassed an impressive record, securing a combined total of 14 professional titles. Notable victories over top-tier players like Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime underscored their prowess and potential in the sport.

However, adversity struck when Yates faced a debilitating wrist injury that plagued him for five months. In the face of this setback, Hunter continued to travel and play for 13 weeks in Europe, and Yates found another path to fill his time, coaching privately in NYC. Yates and his brother made the difficult decision to bid farewell to professional tennis and transition to full-time competition in the world of professional pickleball. Their bold move marked them as the first active pro tennis players to make such a transition.

Yates has wasted no time making waves in the sport. With victories over renowned players like Ben Johns, Tyson McGuffin, and JW Johnson, Yates has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the pickleball court. His relentless drive and passion has propelled him to # 13 in the world in singles. After sustaining a serious groin injury in September of 2024, Yates struggled through pain and rehab for over 10 months. After being sidelined for so long, through his unwavering determination, Yates is now back at full strength and ready to continue his quest to ascend to the pinnacle of pickleball greatness, aiming to claim the title of the top pickleball player in the world.