Martin Emmrich Biography: Birthday, Career, Titles and Records

Martin Emmrich is a German former tennis professional who now plays professional pickleball on the PPA Tour.

Martin Emmrich was born on 17 December 1984 in Magdeburg, Germany, the son of former East German tennis player Thomas Emmrich. Growing up in a tennis‑oriented family, he began playing at local clubs and entered the German federation’s development programme, where he honed his doubles skills.

He turned professional on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning fifteen doubles titles and three ATP Tour doubles championships, and reached a career‑high doubles ranking of world No. 35 on 5 August 2013. After retiring from tennis, Emmrich switched to professional pickleball and now competes on the PPA Tour, focusing on doubles and mixed events.

Martin Emmrich: quick facts

Born: 17 December 1984, Magdeburg
Country: Germany
Sport: Pickleball
Height: 183 cm

Martin Emmrich’s early life

Martin Emmrich was born on 17 December 1984 in Magdeburg, Germany. He is the son of Thomas Emmrich, a former East German tennis player who remains the only athlete from that former state to have achieved an ATP ranking. Growing up in a household where tennis was a central pursuit, Martin was introduced to the sport at an early age and observed his father’s training routines, which shaped his early appreciation for the game.

Emmrich’s formative years were spent training at local clubs in Magdeburg, where he quickly progressed through the junior circuit. His performances earned him a place in the German tennis federation’s development programme, allowing him to refine his net play and partnership tactics. By his late teens, he was competing nationally in doubles events, laying the foundation for the doubles‑focused career that would later define his professional achievements.

Martin Emmrich’s before pickleball

Emmrich turned professional on the ATP Challenger Tour, concentrating on doubles competition. Over his career he secured fifteen Challenger doubles titles out of twenty‑four finals, demonstrating consistent performance at the secondary tier of professional tennis. His success on the Challenger circuit propelled him into the ATP Tour, where he contested seven doubles finals and captured three titles, while also achieving four runner‑up finishes.

While his singles ranking peaked at world No. 604 on 12 October 2009, Emmrich’s primary focus remained doubles and mixed doubles, where he attained his highest doubles ranking of No. 35 on 5 August 2013. Throughout his tennis tenure he was recognised for his net proficiency and ability to coordinate with partners, attributes that later facilitated his transition to pickleball after retiring from the ATP circuit.

Martin Emmrich’s professional career

Emmrich’s professional tennis journey spanned more than a decade, beginning in the mid‑2000s on the Challenger circuit and culminating in ATP Tour success by the early 2010s. The 2013 season marked the apex of his doubles ranking, reaching world No. 35, and he continued to compete at the highest level until deciding to retire from professional tennis in the late 2010s.

Following retirement, Emmrich embraced pickleball, joining the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour where he competes primarily in doubles and mixed events. His background in high‑level doubles tennis has informed his pickleball strategy, allowing him to quickly establish himself among the sport’s emerging professional ranks. He has focused on refining his serve and volley techniques to suit the faster pace of pickleball, and participates in PPA tournaments across the United States, seeking to translate his doubles expertise into podium finishes.

Martin Emmrich’s titles and achievements

During his tennis career Emmrich captured three ATP Tour doubles titles and was runner‑up in four additional finals, reflecting a strong presence at the elite level. On the Challenger circuit he amassed fifteen doubles titles from twenty‑four finals, a record that underscores his consistency in the secondary professional tier. These victories contributed to his reputation as a reliable partner capable of delivering under pressure.

His highest ATP singles ranking was world No. 604, achieved on 12 October 2009, while his peak doubles ranking of No. 35 came on 5 August 2013. These rankings, combined with his title haul, positioned him among Germany’s notable doubles specialists of his era. His ascent to the top‑50 in doubles was accompanied by regular participation in Grand Slam events, where he competed in the main draws and gained valuable experience against the world’s elite pairs.

Martin Emmrich’s personal life

Emmrich is the son of Thomas Emmrich, a former East German tennis player who made history as the only athlete from that country to hold an ATP ranking. In July 2015, Martin married Dutch tennis professional Michaëlla Krajicek; the couple later separated in 2018. The marriage to Krajicek linked two professional tennis families, and the couple was occasionally seen supporting each other at tournaments before their separation.

Subsequent to his separation, Emmrich remarried, taking Tamaryn Hendler as his spouse. Details of his family life beyond these facts have not been publicly disclosed. The marriage has been noted in tennis circles, with Hendler herself being a former professional player, and the couple is reported to share an interest in promoting racket sports in Europe. They occasionally appear together at sporting events and support youth development programmes.