PRO-file by ALICE TYM
Behind the Scenes with Pro
EMILY
CEDERQUIST
Age : 25 Hometown : Temecula , California
College : Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Major : Kinesiology
Marital Status : Married in May Ranking : ATP 7 Best shot : Backhand drive and lob
Favorite tournament : Newport Beach ATP
People loved the Super Bowl pickleball commercial . How did that come about ? Last year I played on the MLP Atlanta Bouncers team . It is owned by Anheuser-Busch , which was advertising Michelob beer at the Super Bowl . They wanted to use two professional pickleball players . I was filmed in Newport Beach . It was fun to do , and a lot of it didn ’ t make the final cut . Lots of people were involved from the acting world . We spent a lot of time teaching some of the actors how to play pickleball . It was fun being in their world .
Were there any particularly funny things that happened ? They had a guy fire balls at Jaume Martinez Vich as hard as he could . They wanted him to miss but he didn ’ t ! After the ad aired during the Super Bowl , my phone blew up with 60 or 70 messages . It was the third most popular Super Bowl ad .
You were a Division 1 tennis player . How did that impact your pickleball career ? I was better at doubles . That helped me move into pickleball because I was comfortable at the net . That gave me more confidence .
Will pickleball become an NCAA sport ? I would be surprised if it doesn ’ t . One issue is court facilities . We only had seven tennis courts at Cal Poly , and we were not allowed to put down lines because of NCAA rules . Universities need space for pickleball courts and that could be a problem .
What do you think is the most important quality — mental or physical — for pickleball ? Mental fortitude and the ability to change a game plan . The top 200 players have similar skill levels and physical abilities . The ability to have a Plan B and a Plan C makes the difference .
What experience in your youth has shaped your character ? Personally , I am a Christian . For me , having a God I could turn to and know became very clear to me at a young age . I no longer had to rely on myself . It was truly lifechanging and it helps me manage my emotions .
What person in your life do you most admire ? My mom is my biggest role model . She drove me across the country to tennis tournaments and now goes to every pickleball tournament . She grew up in Vietnam then left on a boat for Guam in 1975 . I look up to her in all areas of life . I hope to be half the woman she is .
Are you a California girl ? I am a SOUTHERN California girl ! When I go to other states , I compare . I am spoiled by the weather . I ’ m not a beach bum , but I love the beach . I wouldn ’ t want to live anywhere else !
What would you do to improve pickleball ? There needs to be a unified tour that has leadership and people in charge who care about players and tournaments . Rather than cater to the top 10 men players and top five women who make six figures while other players must pay out of pocket to play , there needs to be concern for all players .
What are your favorite drills ? For practice , I like drilling more than playing . It ’ s important to drill intentionally . I work on transition shots so I can handle someone ’ s attack . And I use drills that work on the back guy moving in . I like the 7-11 drill . When we are drilling , we don ’ t move on until we accomplish the goal of that specific drill . •
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