Hailing from Tunisia, Selkirk Sparta Pro Anouar Braham moved to the U.S. in 2019 and played tennis for Montreat College. Soon after, he discovered pickleball and decided to go pro in 2025.
Since he earned a contract at the first pickleball combine in fall 2025, Braham has seen great success on the PPA Challenger circuit, even earning a PPA Tour contract.
The Combine experience
Looking back at the Combine, what was the most challenging part of the advanced performance testing? Why?
Looking back at the Combine, I think the most challenging part was playing live matches with different partners, especially adapting to each player’s game. Agility tests were also a bit challenging because I didn’t know what to expect going into the Combine. However, every individual performed the best they could, and it’s nice to be around that kind of environment.
Was there a specific metric or piece of feedback from the Combine that surprised you about your own athleticism?
Broad jump was the metric that surprised me the most about myself in a good way, and the reaction test was very important to get better at when it comes to pickleball. Conditioning overall was the key at the Combine, in my opinion, to play comfortably in tight moments at the highest level.
Why would you encourage other emerging pros to apply for future Sparta Combines?
I encourage other pros to apply for the future Sparta Combine because it’s a very unique program where you get to know more about yourself as a player, as a person, and as a teammate. You will realize how far or close you are from the highest level, and how much work you need to put in it in order to make it in this professional sport.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to an athlete who is currently grinding in the early draws and wants to reach the Sparta level of performance?
Do not be discouraged, trust the process. Every individual has their own time — it takes more losses than wins to actually make it. It is all about consistency and discipline, like every other sport. Results don’t define how good you are as a player. If you keep showing up, you will be put on the map.
Since the Combine, what has been your favorite or biggest achievement on the court?
A personal milestone for me was making the top 40 in the world in all three events. My breakthrough win was at Dallas Worlds, beating the No. 9 team in doubles (Dekel Bar and AJ Koller), and making it to round 16. I'm also very proud of winning the Challenger Showdown in Dallas, medaling in 15 events in the past year of PPA Challenger events, and getting signed by the PPA Tour.
Anouar's game notes
You’ve previously mentioned that when you first saw pickleball, it looked like a “silly sport.” At what point did you realize that the sport could become a profession for you?
After I played my first 5.0 tournament, I realized that I had a chance to make it, but I didn’t know how far I would go.
Coming from a high-level tennis background, you are known for your athleticism and heavy groundstrokes. What was the hardest part about learning the dink/soft game as a necessary tool in your arsenal?
Patience is the hardest part ... even today.
You’ve lived in the U.S. since 2019 and are rarely able to travel home to Tunisia. How has the pickleball community helped fill the void?
Between friends and host families, my family’s constant support from back home, the American dream I’m building, best friends from college and from tour, and especially the pickleball community here in Atlanta, I’ve found connection everywhere. What once felt like a void has become something full.
You graduated with a degree in Cyber Security but chose the court over the keyboard. How does that analytical engineer's brain help you when you’re breaking down an opponent’s strategy in the middle of a match?
I’ve been an observant person my entire life, and I’ve coached a lot, which has helped me learn how to break down the game and recognize patterns quickly. I can usually read my opponent’s tendencies just from the warm-up and adjust my strategy accordingly. Having an engineering brain also helps. I naturally process information analytically, so I’m able to think through strategy and make adjustments faster in real time.
You are known for being intimidating on the court. Is this a conscious decision, or something that comes naturally because of your competitive nature?
It comes naturally. I’m not intentionally trying to be intimidating. But I hear that a lot, especially in mixed doubles, because I have an aggressive style.
Fast facts:
Short, fun answers only!
- Your go-to warm-up song: "Ordinary" by Alex Warren and Luke Combs
- Most surprising item in your bag: My mom’s initials on a necklace
- Post-tournament cheat meal: Olive Garden pasta and breadsticks
- Favorite recovery method: Nap for sure
- If you weren’t a pro pickleballer, what would your dream job be?: Padel player
- One word to describe the Sparta Program: Unique
