Behind the Scenes with Pro

What ’ s your favorite shot ? The Erne .

You were a tennis player who played on the Davis Cup team for Romania . What is the most difficult thing converting your game from tennis to pickleball ? The kitchen game and speed-ups . It is easy for tennis players early on , but then to get to a higher level you must learn pickleball-specific techniques .

What advice would you give someone wanting to turn pro ? Patience . It is a long process . You must do lots of repetitions and play tournaments .

What is your secret to handling pressure ? There are lots of coping mechanisms . I think it is important to focus on the things that you can do .

Many European tennis players are frontrunners , i . e ., they like to get ahead and stay ahead , and play better when they are ahead . Are you a frontrunner ? Because of my experience in pro tennis , I think I have learned to turn frustration into more energy . Early on I was a frontrunner , but now I have learned to come back as well .

What will it take to get more Europeans to play pickleball ? It is growing over there . Television is playing a big role . There are Europeans on the tour . The British Open is in May , the Swedish in August . There is a 90 percent retention rate . My dad is an avid player .

Will Eastern Europeans make a mark in pickleball like they have in tennis ? Are you the vanguard ? It will take time , like basketball . Europe has a good sports culture . I ’ m a trailblazer as a player because I play 35-40 events a year . But I don ’ t get to spend much time in Romania coaching .

What gave you the drive growing up in Romania ? The passion of the game . I love sports in general . My dad played basketball .

What aspect of Romanian culture do you miss most ? The food .

Do you see a Davis Cup lookalike for pickleball ? One-hundred percent . Major League Pickleball is fun .

What book most influenced your life ? “ Flow : The Psychology of Optimal Experience ” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi . It is not sports specific , but it deals with the ups and downs .

What is your favorite song ? “ In The End ” by Linkin Park . It is a good band with a good rhythm .

Do you have a pre-match routine ? Yes , I stretch , get loose for 10-15 minutes , listen to music , hydrate .

What is your favorite city in the world ? Miami .

You have two young children . What are the two most important values you are teaching them ? That they learn from their mistakes , and they figure things out on their own . My daughters love puzzles and I do the puzzles with them .

What is your motto ? Never say never .

What do you look for in a paddle ? I like the Proton Series One Type A 11mm because the nanotechnology doesn ’ t wear out and the surface gives you more spin . •

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