[1] As a child, he was an active athlete who played tennis at school.
When Yates was a teenager, his uncle introduced him to the sport of pickleball.
[2] In 2014 at age 19, Yates competed in his first USA Pickleball (USAPA) National Tournament and won gold in the men's doubles 19+ division.
[3] He won the grand slam of men's pro doubles in 2016: the US Open, Tournament of Champions, and the USAPA Nationals.
[3][4] Yates was announced on September 3, 2024 as a 2024 inductee into the Pickleball Hall of Fame.