How Hannah Berner Turned Her Tennis Career Into a Comedy Superpower (Exclusive)

looks surprisingly unfazed. Well, mostly unfazed. “It’s too hot out” the Giggly Squad co-host and stand-up comedian laughed, still buzzing from her friendly match with Madison.

Hannah may be best known to Cosmopolitan readers for her wildly popular podcast Giggly Squad (which she co-hosts alongside ) and her nationwide None of My Business comedy tour, but tennis is actually where her career began. Long before honing her craft in stand-up or starring in Summer House, Hannah spent years competing seriously as a junior tennis player, even playing for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. These days, she's invested in the sport in a new way as a lululemon tennis ambassador, soaking in the oft-described "tennis paradise" at Indian Wells, one of the most stunning stops on the professional tennis calendar.

“When I was growing up, tennis was kind of nerdy and weird,” Hannah joked with Cosmo. “We were like horse girls. Now, every cool girl is associated with tennis, so I’m excited we’re getting a time to shine.”For Hannah, picking up the racket in 2026 feels a little like revisiting a former life.

“I feel like tennis was my first career,” she said. “It was my longest relationship.”That relationship shaped more than she realized at the time. The discipline, mental toughness, and sheer emotional chaos of competing at such a high level ended up becoming the unexpected training ground for her second act: stand-up comedy.“People say stand-up comedy is so hard,” Hannah said.