Sam Querrey has announced he is going to challenge the best of the pickleball world in 2023.
The former Wimbledon semifinalist and winner of ten ATP singles titles is training three times a week for his pickleball debut next year. He also says he’s already been playing the fast-growing sport for six years.
The 35 year old Querrey, who retired from pro tennis at the 2022 US Open, will be the first distinguished and accomplished professional tennis player to test his racquet skills against the world’s best of the paddle game on the smaller court.
Noah Rubin has also recently announced he too will try his hand at pickleball next year.
Cory · October 13, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Feel bad for Rubin. He hit what the top 60 or so and was there for a few years but can’t climb back in it. The guy seemingly can’t beat anyone now. Wonder what’s happening.
Pickleball is so great. I see the sport growing. I’ll bet we see lots of 40-something former stars take it on for side income and relevance. It’s perfect for guys who can’t move around as well but the hand skills and wit are still there.
Scoop Malinowski · October 13, 2022 at 1:36 pm
Cory, I don’t think Rubin ever broke into the top 100. I remember seeing him play Khachanov tough at US Open one year, thought with his speed and hustle and scrappiness he would be a Ferrer or Schwartzman type, maybe he needed a Dr Cotorro, not sure why he stopped winning. Wish him the best for pickleball, would not be surprised if he goes straight to the top, let’s not forget that he is an extraordinary tennis player despite the low ranking and disappointing ATP results. Pickleball is very enjoyable to watch, and the stigma of being called “a Mickey Mouse version of tennis” by Colin Dibley a few years ago is long gone, it’s a very serious sport with huge potential in the next decade.
Cory · October 13, 2022 at 3:12 pm
well said Scoop… and yep i was way off about Rubin… as you probably saw, his highest was 125. I likened him to ATP250+ action but most of his action was Challengers. i assumed he was better than 125 but then again, the Challengers are no joke like u said in a recent post. He has a podcast with Mike Cation i’m sure you’ve heard it (Cation is great). It’s a good listen IMO.
Scoop Malinowski · October 13, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Cory, Yes I know Rubin is an excellent interview from when did this Biofile at Sarasota Open about 3 years ago. https://www.tennis-prose.com/bios/biofile-noah-rubin-interview/ He and Kozlov both have struggled to rise beyond that 125 ranking range, both never reached top 100, but both played the Wimbledon junior final. Both are great players, but that’s the cruelty of the ATP and the disregard for the lower ranked guys, though PTPA is seeking to change that. Was wondering why Mike Cation was absent from some of the recent Challenger broadcasts, he’s the best, the new guy was ok. Cation was also not at Sarasota Open this year, which was surprising as he was there for all the recent years. The new guy is not as good as Mike C. Yes Mike C and Rubin do a very good podcast, I heard the one with Kozlov.