Pickleball & Tennis Adventures Update!
It all begins with an idea.
What a crazy 10 days of travel!
I kicked things off at the Las Vegas Open with an exciting pickleball tournament. It’s always fun heading back to the tempting city, but to be totally honest, the level of play was a bit affected by the pickleball rolls! Those courts are generally great if they are glued to the courts permanently but here the flooring wasn’t always even which made a lot of bad bounces that made matches tougher than they should’ve been at times. That being said, the energy was great, and props to the PPA for hosting the event at the convention center. Always such a cool venue!
It’s always a blast competing with Callie Jo Smith and Riley Newman—this was our second tournament together. Callie and I ran into the second seeds, Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon, in the round of 16, and they proved too tough for us this time. We might play them again in Cincinnati, and we will be ready this time around. In men’s doubles, Riley and I battled our way to the quarterfinals before coming up short against number 2 seed, Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud. In singles, I had an intense match against my fellow Frenchman, Noé Khlif, in the round of 16, but unfortunately fell just short on critical moments. Despite the results, it was an incredible weekend of competition and camaraderie. I am now ranked 13th in mixed doubles, 18th in men’s doubles and 33rd in singles.
From there, I headed straight to New York to reconnect with the Octagon team. We had a few productive meetings and got the chance to take in the US Open Tennis. The atmosphere at Flushing Meadows never disappoints. I hadn’t been back since 2018, when I was a hitting partner, and it was just as magical to witness the intensity, skill, and brilliance of those incredible athletes firsthand. Sinner looks unbelievable, I am not a big fan yet but it is hard to bet against him after the performance I witnessed!
My next stop was at The Sports Haus Norwalk, Connecticut, where I had the chance to run a pickleball clinic. Former platform tennis legend (and also excellent pickleball player) Juan Arraya recently opened his club there, and it was fantastic to see what he’s built. I had a blast working with such a motivated group of players and watching how fast the sport is growing in new communities.
Finally, it was time to head home… or so I thought! Yesterday, American Airlines had other plans. A massive storm delayed all flights at La Guardia Airport, and we ended up stuck on the tarmac for three hours before being sent back to the gate. After a second attempt, we finally took off, only to arrive in Dallas at 1:30am instead of the 7pm scheduled. This caused me to miss my connection, I ended up sleeping in Dallas and catching a morning flight today, but at last, I’m home. Travel for work isn’t always glamorous, haha!
And now coming up! it’s on to the Cincinnati Cup! I’ll be hitting the courts with Callie and Riley again at the Cincinnati Cup, and I can’t wait for this event since it features a progressive draw. If you need tickets please reach out, I have access to 2 tickets per day, so if you are planning on coming let me know and come and cheer for us!
Tip of the Day:
“Focus on maximizing your strengths and isolating your weaknesses rather than trying to be average at everything.”
A Special Thank You to YOU and My Sponsors
I want to take a moment to sincerely thank my sponsors for their ongoing support! Your encouragement means the world and keeps me motivated to compete at my best week after week. After my knee surgery, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to return to the top of my game, so continuing to climb the rankings is especially rewarding and it wouldn’t be possible without your support.
I’m also excited to share that I now have the opportunity to feature additional patches on my shoulder. If you’re interested in showcasing your brand in the rapidly growing pickleball scene, even on televised events, then please don’t hesitate to reach out.