“ Social interaction , a good physical workout , and the easiest sport / activity for seniors to learn all underline the key reasons for pickleball ’ s popularity ,” he explained . “ The real rise in the game ’ s interest , however , can be attributed to the millions of 3.0 and 3.5 players who have been the true ambassadors of pickleball and brought so many of their friends and neighbors to our pickleball courts and introduced them to the sport . And , we all know , one time on a pickleball court — with a paddle in your hand and friends next to you and across the net — is all it takes !”
Diane Keller , 79 , of Burnt Hills , New York , agrees : “ I used to play in competitive tennis tournaments and leagues , but found my ability was declining . I wasn ’ t as fast or strong as I once was . In pickleball , I was as good as I ever was and had the prospect of getting better . It was exciting — like a fresh start .”
And , with many new players being attracted to the sport , the quality of play has increased across the board . “ More and more people play now , and the level of play has risen dramatically ,” said Keller . “ Players are hitting the ball harder and using a greater variety of strokes . The number of tournaments has increased dramatically , and most people have now heard of pickleball .”
Alice Tym was once ranked 13th in the world in women ’ s singles in tennis and played in all four of the sport ’ s Grand Slam events . A member of the Intercollegiate Hall of Fame , she played # 1 for the Florida Gators all four years of her time in Gainesville . Her tennis excellence extended into the coaching ranks as well . A USPTA Coach of the Year , her University of Tennessee- Chattanooga teams won three consecutive national championships while she also captured two Ivy
League championships as coach of Yale .
Tym , who is 79 years of age and lives in McDonald , Tennessee , feels that pickleball will continually resonate with senior players . “ Pickleball will always attract seniors . It is great fun . Most of the time , it is the seniors who get the courts built and do much of the start-up work . There is plenty of room for both younger and older players in the sport if managed properly ,” said Tym , a “ Gator Great ” as a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame .
The world is certainly taking notice of the rapid rise in participation and popularity of the sport of pickleball , and those who forged its growth — the senior players — encompass a broad spectrum on courts throughout the United States and beyond . They will always be a vital sector of the sport ’ s demographics . •
With nearly 30 years of tennis head coaching experience — first at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa , California , and now at UC Riverside — Mattias Johansson was inducted into the Vanguard Hall of Fame as a player and a coach , and is also a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) Hall of Fame .
PHOTO BY STEVE TAYLOR
Brown University Hall of Fame member Mircea Morariu and his partner , Julie Johnson , are always a formidable pair on the court , especially from the baseline .
Triple Crown winner Jennifer Dawson fixes her steady gaze on a return .
JULY / AUGUST 2022 | MAGAZINE 39