PRO-file by ALICE TYM
Behind the Scenes with Pro
RACHEL
ROHRABACHER
Hometown: Tampa, FL Age: 28 Rating: 6.13 Favorite Event: PPA Cincinnati
You were an outstanding doubles player in tennis at the University of South Carolina. What of those skills carried over into pickleball? Anticipation at the net and reaction time translated immediately, along with learning how to be a good teammate. Doubles tennis teaches you how to communicate, read your partner, and play with someone else on the court, all of which are essential in pickleball.
What brought you to tennis and who most influenced your development? My parents put me in tennis at a young age. My dad, especially, spent countless hours traveling with me and working with me off the court. Both of my parents dedicated a huge portion of their lives to my tennis career and my success. I’ m forever indebted to them. I truly wouldn’ t be where I am today without their support.
What do you consider to be your best shot, and how have you made it a consistent part of your game? My rolled dinks are my best shot. They help me set up points and put my opponents in uncomfortable positions. I’ ve made them consistent through repetition and by using them intentionally to build points rather than force winners.
Where do you see pickleball headed in the next five years? I see it continuing to grow at a rapid pace. Over the past few years, it’ s gone from people barely knowing what pickleball is, to being genuinely excited when they hear I play professionally. The PPA will keep growing, prize money will increase, and hopefully there will be a media rights deal soon. I think pickleball is on its way to becoming a fully established professional sport.
Do you favor traditional pickleball scoring or rally scoring? Why? I really like rally scoring in an MLP setting. It makes matches more exciting and less predictable, which is part of what makes MLP special. Players are paired with partners they didn’ t necessarily choose, and rally scoring adds to the drama and excitement. For traditional pickleball, I think side-out scoring is fine. Changing it now might be confusing, even though it can be challenging for beginners at first.
If you were training a young player, would you start with tennis or pickleball? Why? I’ d start with both. Playing pickleball from a young age gives players an advantage because they don’ t have to unlearn habits from another sport. At the same time, tennis develops great athletic qualities that transfer well. Ideally, it could be about 70 – 75 % pickleball and 25 – 30 % tennis. As junior pickleball continues to grow, I hope it becomes more structured, like the USTA, and maybe even a college sport one day.
How do you train to improve your footwork skills? A lot of ladder work. I also work with a coach who runs me hard, feeding balls and mixing in ladder drills between reps. It’ s tough, but extremely effective.
List three things pickleball has taught you that you apply to life in general. One of the biggest lessons pickleball has taught me is the power of community. Unlike tennis, pickleball creates a strong sense of belonging and connection. It brings people together from all backgrounds, and gives many people purpose and social connection. Seeing that has been impactful for me.
Describe your sense of humor. Very dry. That comes from my dad.
When you win or lose a match, are you able to walk away and leave it behind you? Winning is easier to move on from than losing. After a loss, I usually need about 30 minutes to decompress. But pickleball tournaments happen so close together that you can’ t dwell for long. You’ re often back competing within days.
Tell me something no one knows about you. I always remember where I park. Always. It’ s basically a superpower, and I’ m very proud of it. •
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