PRO-file by ALICE TYM
Behind the Scenes with Pro
GRAYSON
GOLDIN
Age: 30 Hometown: Bradenton, FL, now living in Delray Beach, FL
College: Florida State, University of Alabama, graduated from University of South Florida Marital Status: Single, dating Hannah Blatt in a“ pickleship”
Favorite Tournament: US Open Ranking: # 2 APP men’ s singles, # 23 PPA men’ s singles
Best Shot: Forehand and fastest serve( 69 mph)
Describe your tennis background. I was ranked # 1 in the U. S. in 12s. I received a scholarship at 16 to attend the IMG Tennis Academy. I wanted to be a tennis pro. I played D1 tennis and played against many of today’ s top players. I stopped competing at 23 and took a desk job.
What drew you to pickleball? I saw an opportunity to make money. I was sitting at a desk and saw pickleball blow up. I thought I could transfer my tennis skills. My mindset was that I could do anything that I believed in. I was grateful to compete. I had stopped tennis at 23 because I was burned out. But I love pickleball, the training and I love to compete.
Do you advocate a players union? Yeah, maybe. It could be helpful. What harm could come of it? I’ m too new to really have a say.
You have the fastest serve in pickleball at 69 mph. Do you think the rules on serving should change? It is a wiffle ball. The rules should stay low to high. Let the paddle create the power. It is overkill to add spin to the toss, etc. The key to generating power is to understand how the body works. Power comes from the ground up. You are pressing into the ground, and you operate like a spring or a coil as you uncoil and put your hips into the swing.
Should pickleball be an NCAA sport? Yes, it is the perfect college sport. Frats and sororities getting rowdy … MLP vibe and electricity.
What is the secret to winning doubles? Patience. It is playing chess. Doubles is a lot more tactical than singles.
Do hats and visors hide the eye movement to disguise shots? Yeah, but I don’ t wear them. My hair is a moneymaker. I watch their eyes when they are serving.
Who is your favorite teacher in life? King Solomon. I read his stuff in the Bible. He chose wisdom over wealth. He had everything and struggled to find purpose in life.
What is your favorite book?“ Artemis Fowl.” It’ s about a young, intelligent family.
Your favorite movie?“ Interstellar.” I would love to go into space.
What kind of car do you drive? A black Tesla. I like technology. I am wearing Meta glasses, not headphones, in this interview.
How will AI change the world? I spend hours a day using AI. It enhances creativity. I try to get it to know me so it can offer advice and assist with tasks. I work to grow my social media content. I create, edit, and post content. My girlfriend helps me as she has 110,000 followers. It is important to grow your personal brand to attract sponsors.
Who is the ideal woman? The one I have.
What place would you most like to visit? The pyramids in Egypt.
What is something no one knows about you? I love math. I would like to pursue mathematics. It is the language of the universe. Nature follows math and sometimes human behavior does too. I enjoy trading, the markets, and investing. I enjoy analytics, patterns within the markets. I manage my own portfolio. I was homeschooled my whole life. •
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