By Alice Tym

Behind the Scenes with Pro

What qualities make a good men ’ s doubles player in contrast to a good mixed doubles player ? A good men ’ s doubles player is more patient , disciplined , and has a good soft game . A good mixed player must be athletic , aggressive , impose control , control the middle , and hit 75 % of the shots .

Do you have a pre-match routine ? I drink a coffee then drink water . I stay hydrated then I have a dynamic warmup .

Where do you want pickleball to go ? I ’ d like to see pickleball become the most played sport in America . Keep building a lot of courts .

What is your favorite music genre ? I like all classical music . I listen to a lot of Mozart . I especially like Symphony 40 in G minor . I played piano a lot when I was young .

What book has influenced you the most ? “ Can ’ t Hurt Me ” by David Goggins . He was a Navy Seal who had a tremendous work ethic . That is why I work hard .

What ’ s your favorite kind of food ? I like Indian food , chicken tikka masala , biryani , and lamb masala .

What would be your dream vacation ? I ’ d like to take my girlfriend , Anna Bright , to Beijing , China .

Are you a problem solver ? No , I am a problem creator .

Social media is so prevalent now . Do you think this is a good thing for young players ? It ’ s good that you can watch other players . It is bad because you might see negative comments about yourself .

Do you gamble ? I used to bet on the horses , but it wasn ’ t good for my bank account .

Do you have siblings ? I have two younger brothers and one younger sister . They all play tennis . And my 12-year-old sister plays a lot of pickleball .

Tell me something few people know about you . When I was 17 , I was the # 1 Word Hunt player . Once I played 13 hours of pickleball straight in one day . And I was on the Dean ’ s List at Vanderbilt University every semester for four years . •

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