Viktoria Gecheva

Viktoria Gecheva — listed as Christa in the draws — took a winding road to the pro tour. Bulgarian by heritage, she grew up in London before crossing the Atlantic to play Division I tennis at the University of Wyoming.

The degrees stacked up along the way: a pre-vet science undergrad, an MBA, and a master's in journalism, plus years spent coaching at the D-I level and with elite juniors. She picked up a paddle in 2022 and climbed fast — a Challenger MLP title followed in 2023, and in 2025 she finished fourth at the Red Rocks PPA, beating Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson en route.

Christa now competes across women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour, and is part of the growing roster of professional athletes in Major League Pickleball. She brings a competitive edge to every match and continues to develop her game at the highest level of the sport.

Off the court, animal advocacy is her cause. She's raised more than $20,000 through pickleball to feed and treat rescues at a shelter back in Bulgaria.