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ALERT: Novak Djokovic not happy with club tennis decline and pickleball/paddle takeover

ALERT: Novak Djokovic not happy with club tennis decline and pickleball/paddle takeover

PLUS: Caitlin Clark loves pickleball + eBay lists Starbucks pickleball paddles for $450

Good day, picklers.

In honor of the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials, we have decided to travel to Minnesota— home to Suni Lee, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s all-around gymnastics champion. 🥇

Our pickleball courts of choice for this week?

The Picklr courts located in Blaine, MN. Still no Drew Brees sighting yet but hey, a dreamer can dream.

Let’s get into some pickle talk, shall we?

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

Pickle Talk: Novak Djokovic not happy with club tennis decline and pickleball/paddle takeover
Bite-sized: Caitlin Clark loves pickleball, Pickleball Kingdom announced 30 new locations, $225k purse for 2024 Biofeeze USA Pickleball National Championships
Golden Pickle: eBay lists Starbucks pickleball paddles for $450

Let’s start off with a visually stunning banger, shall we? 😵‍💫

The power of a two-handed backhander is never to be underestimated.

Exhibit A.

Let’s get into some PICKLE TALK

TENNIS CHAMP, NOVAK DJOKOVIC,
ADDRESSES PICKLEBALL TAKEOVER

It’s Wimbledon season, and this past Saturday, July 6th, Novak Djokovic won his game to advance ahead towards another title.

BUT…his win was hardly what made headlines in the media.

According to X account @TheTennisLetter, Djokovic had a lot to say regarding the stagnant & declining progress he is seeing in the world of tennis, especially club tennis.

He states that while tennis is the 3rd or 4th most watched sport in the world along with cricket, the sports ranks at 9th or 10th on the popularity list.

He shares another number that backs his concern:

❝

Very rarely do I see in the media that you guys are writing about the fact that you have only 350 to 400 players both men, women, singles, doubles across the board that live from this sport on this planet. That’s deeply concerning for me.

Novak Djokovic

So where does pickleball come in?

Djokovic admits that while pickleball is more “economical” and “financially viable” for club owners, if nothing is done to stop the conversion of tennis courts into pickleball and paddle courts, at the club level…

“tennis is endangered”.

Our thoughts?

It’s interesting that, up until now, no prominent tennis figure has made this type of observation and bid of concern for the sport (that we know of at least).

But as observers in the pickleball industry, it wouldn’t be surprising if his claims are true. There is news everyday that shows tennis courts are in fact being converted into pickleball courts due to its greater demand.

While tennis is an old sport and established, what works against it as a racket sport of choice is its prestige and a high-class energy attache it that many may find intimidating. (AKA players are not as welcoming)

And if we are being honest…it is an intense sport to get into, especially compared to pickleball.

Just like any sports fan, Djokovic’s love for his sport is apparent. His observations are quite on point.

But in terms of pickleball vs. tennis, there might be an angle tennis could play into. An opportunity here to leverage pickleball as an introductory sport into tennis, rather a complete replacement.

The one thing that pickleball has over tennis is its accessibility factor, one that tennis does not have. The barrier to entry is simply too high for most average players wanting to get into a racket sport.

Back to the drawing board, tennis marketing execs.

GAME ON: PPA PICKLEBALL TOUR 2025 VIDEO GAME SET FOR RELEASE

IT. IS. HERE.

Gamers. Pickleball lovers. Set your calendar for July 17 because the official pro pickleball video game is set to release for Xbox, PlayStation and Steam.

Developed by FarSight Studios, the PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 video game offers a variety of options for you to not only customize your game, but play as if you were a pro on the road to victory.

Here’s what the game features:

Choose from more than 16 PPA pros such as Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters
Collect and play with your favorite pickleball brands
Experience playing at different virtual venues
Start from rookie mode and work your way up to a pro in Career Mode
Options of Single or Doubles
Customize your own players

If only the Wii was still a thing… 😭

BITE-SIZED PICKLES

1/ BASKETBALL MEETS PICKLEBALL: Basketball sensation Caitlin Clark blew up the internet this past week when a video of her playing pickleball surfaced online. Taking part in the Wheeler Kid Foundation charity pickleball tournament, the goal was to raise money to give children access to extracurricular activities and clubs. But that wasn’t the first time she’s played our sport. Back in June, she posted on X that “pickleball has become one of my favorite hobbies to do when I am not playing basketball.”

2/ SIGN, SEALED, DELIVERED: LOTTO is making moves in pickleball! They've just signed star player Pablo Tellez, who joined the Brooklyn Aces from the Texas Ranchers. Tellez loves LOTTO's comfy shoes and high-performance paddles, saying they’ve taken his game to the next level. Along with this, LOTTO launched their first U.S. pickleball gear at DICK'S Sporting Goods, with paddles and shoes ranging from $150 to $250. Backed by a celeb ownership group, including Kevin Durant and Drake, LOTTO is all in on pickleball.

3/ EXPANDED: Pickleball Kingdom, the top indoor pickleball brand, is expanding into North Carolina with 30 new clubs led by franchisees Sanjay and Dhaval Patel. This marks a major milestone for the brand, offering state-of-the-art indoor courts, professional coaching, youth programs, and competitive leagues. CEO Ace Rodrigues is excited about the Patels' initiative in redefining pickleball in the state. It's all about promoting the sport and fostering a strong community, setting a new standard for indoor pickleball facilities.

4/ CASH COW: USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body in the U.S., has announced a $225,000 prize purse for the 2024 BioFreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, taking place from November 9-17 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. Professional players across Pro, Champions Pro, and Masters Pro divisions will compete for prize money, highlighting USA Pickleball’s commitment to supporting athletes and promoting high-level competition. The championships will feature various categories including Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, with payouts varying by division. Registration for the event opens in August 2024, promising a showcase of skill and dedication in the sport.