Pickleballers

Jay Devilliers, "the Flying Frenchman," is one of pro pickleball's most accomplished veterans — a former Wichita State tennis standout who transitioned into the pro ranks in 2019 and has stayed near the top of the sport for over half a decade.In this season-closing episode, Jay sits down with Roscoe and Jared for a wide-ranging conversation tracing his path from a hyper-competitive French sporting family through Spanish tennis academies, Wichita State doubles, and into the earliest days of pro pickleball. They cover his partnership with Pat Smith, his rivalry with Ben Johns and Collin Johns, and how he's stayed relevant through injuries and the sport's rapid evolution.Jay breaks down his surreal run as a US Open hitting partner, including a 90-minute session with Rafael Nadal, strategically set up by Carlos Moya, that left his hands blistered and bleeding. He also details the six-month ultimatum his wife gave him in 2020 to prove himself in pickleball or go find a real job, a deadline COVID nearly wiped out before he committed to the sport full time in 2021.Jay also opens up about splitting from longtime partner Pat Smith after sponsor pressure pushed him toward a pairing with Tyson McGuffin, the epic finals battles with Ben Johns and Collin Johns that helped shape Riley Newman and Matt Wright's rise, and his philosophy on body bags, including firing one back at an opponent and the unforgettable moment Anna Leigh Waters caught him with one of her own. He closes out reflecting on raising four kids while grinding on tour and his goal to grow pickleball in Europe.Pickleballers Hat: 🧢https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:44 — Welcome to the season finale6:48 — Growing up the youngest of six in France10:56 — Chasing tennis to Spain and Wichita State13:07 — Becoming a dad as a senior in college16:05 — Becoming a US Open hitting partner17:39 — Practicing with Rafael Nadal21:33 — Building a career after the US Open24:01 — Finding pickleball at Chicken N Pickle26:51 — The six-month ultimatum to go pro27:53 — Wichita's early pickleball hotbed33:31 — Cracking the code on Ben Johns37:08 — Why he and Pat Smith split up41:03 — Battling back from injury in 202445:03 — How the sport has changed since 202050:09 — Reinventing his game every year51:48 — The body bag debate53:56 — The Anna Leigh Waters body bag55:31 — Tennis vs. pickleball: which is harder58:22 — The "Two Anna Leighs" hypothetical1:00:03 — The craziest moment: Zane's chainsaw serve1:02:03 — Who talks the most trash on tour1:03:24 — Legacy, longevity, and growing pickleball in Europe

Brooke Buckner is the #4 women's singles player in the world and a former Division I tennis player at Michigan, known for some of the hardest ground strokes in the game, men or women.In this episode, Brooke sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace her path from junior tennis and college coaching at Michigan, Yale, and UNC Charlotte to becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2020 and, almost by accident, one of pickleball's top singles players. They dig into her training with Mike Wolf, her run with the Dallas Flash, and her near-upset of Anna Lee Waters.Brooke opens up about walking away from a pro tennis track at her coach's advice, becoming a stay-at-home mom during COVID, and how her mother pushed her onto a pickleball court as a way to get her competitive again. She breaks down her jump from rec-league pickleball to the pro tour, admitting she barely trained for singles in the early days and got in "at the right time" before the women's field got deep.Brooke also shares the story of going up 9-4 on Anna Lee Waters before the match slipped away, why she thinks she'll beat her "once" before retiring, and what it's been like building a relationship with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf through Joola, including the text Agassi sent her after a tough loss. She closes out on her new doubles partnership with Caitlin Christian, her goal of reaching a championship Sunday in doubles, and what she wants her legacy to be as a mom who kept chasing her career.Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:25 — Brooke joins the podcast2:07 — Life with the Dallas Flash5:15 — MLP vs. singles focus6:04 — Rating her own singles and doubles game8:35 — Growing up in Cleveland9:50 — Junior tennis and going pro young12:33 — Playing at Michigan18:27 — Marriage, kids, and leaving coaching19:53 — How her mom got her into pickleball24:34 — First pro pickleball events24:38 — Breaking into the top of women's singles31:19 — Working with Mike Wolf33:39 — Signing with Joola32:45 — Relationship with Andre Agassi33:48 — The Insane Anna Leigh Waters match40:56 — The next generation of "pickle kids"47:08 — Goals in doubles53:38 — Legacy and what's next

Hannah Blatt was one of the top squash players in the world before transitioning into professional pickleball, where she's now ranked 22nd in singles and become one of the most followed players in the sport on social media.In this episode, Hannah sits down with Roscoe and Jared to trace her path from elite junior and college squash to professional pickleball, and how she became one of the first players in the sport to build a following around her personal brand rather than just her results on the court.Hannah breaks down her rise through junior and college squash at Drexel, including a brutal sophomore season playing the number one spot where she lost nearly every match, and how that experience shaped her decision to eventually walk away from the sport and throw herself into pickleball instead.Hannah also opens up about becoming one of pickleball's first influencers before it was common, how a mixed doubles partnership with Grayson Goldin turned into an engagement, and her goals to crack the top 20 in all three divisions and eventually go pro at the highest level.Pickleballers Hat: 🧢https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:13 — Meet Hannah Blatt2:16 — Moving to Florida for squash9:05 — What squash actually is13:21 — Ivy League recruiting and Drexel14:56 — Losing almost every match at #122:08 — Turning Pro in a Sport With No Money26:23 — First time playing pickleball27:37 — Building a following, going all in33:38 — Becoming pickleball's first influencer38:50 — The road to going pro in pickleball44:03 — Cracking Top 22 in the World46:16 — A Mixed Doubles Partner Becomes a Fiancé51:02 — The Top 20 Goal and an Olympic Dream52:26 — The Squash Backhand That Carries Over to Pickleball

In this episode, Danni-Elle sits down with Roscoe and Jared fresh off a run to the MLP finals in Austin. She breaks down what it's like competing on American soil for the first time, why she's unapologetic about staying rooted in Australia, and why she believes the sport's next wave of talent is coming from the Asia-Pacific region.Danni-Elle opens up about her table tennis career — how her mom and dad met through the sport, how she rose to the Australian national team, and how it all ended with a cold email telling her "good luck with the rest of your life" after a contract technicality they used to push her out. She traces the unlikely path from that moment to playing pickleball on a wood floor on International Pickleball Day with "a bunch of old people" — and how a free-drinks tournament turned into a full-blown obsession.Danni-Elle also gets into the confidence and swagger she brings to every court, the moment she told Roscoe she's the best women's right-side player in the world, and her completely unbothered declaration that Anna Leigh Waters already knows she's coming for her crown. She shares why being told she "wasn't the look" sponsors were seeking only made her more committed to playing her own way — and why she's betting on herself to crack the top five within a year.Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:10 — Welcome & Intro1:38 — MLP Breakout and First Impressions3:05 — Paving the Way for Australian Pickleball4:01 — Joey Wild and the 1:20 AM Drive to Train5:30 — Where Does She Rank Right Now?6:28 — Why She's Staying in Australia7:21 — Is Asia the Future of Pickleball?12:22 — From Ping-Pong to Pickleball13:08 — The Origin of the Name "Danielle"14:06 — Growing Up in Australia with Three Brothers14:55 — Table Tennis National Team — and Getting Kicked Out16:27 — Discovering Pickleball on International Pickleball Day17:33 — When Pickleball Gets Too Serious19:40 — The Fun vs. Business Tipping Point22:49 — Style Differences: Australia vs. the States26:07 — What Gives Her That Energy on Court27:09 — The Clown Incident with ALW29:59 — Confidence, Competition, and the "Hell No" Mentality33:14 — Theater, Brothers, and Where the Confidence Came From34:47 — Jesse and the "I Don't Like People" Introduction35:53 — Tennis vs. Ping-Pong as a Pickleball Prerequisite39:27 — Most Underrated Player: Georgia Johnson40:15 — Getting Told She "Wasn't the Look"42:39 — Goals: Top Five in One Year, Best in Three51:56 — Where Does Australia Rank Globally?53:13 — Coming for ALW's Crown55:03 — Dream Doubles Partner

In this episode, Grayson sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story of suffering two strokes at 30 years old — how it happened, what those six days in the hospital were like, and what his road back to the court has looked like. It's one of the most raw and honest conversations the show has ever had.Grayson breaks down exactly how it unfolded: a chiropractic adjustment after a tournament left something feeling off, and nine days later he woke up unable to form sentences. He traces the moment on court when water started "pouring into his head," the frantic trip to the ER, and the doctor delivering the news that he'd had not one but two strokes — visible as two dark spots on his brain scan.Grayson also opens up about his path to pickleball — from being ranked number one in the country in junior tennis at 12, to selling life insurance after college, to stumbling onto packed pickleball courts in Sarasota and deciding to go all-in. He shares what it felt like walking into Atlanta and watching Federico and Hayden on center court, the moment he knew this was it, and why he still believes he can be number one in the world.🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:03 — Welcome & Intro2:28 — Two Strokes at 30: The Health Scare Begins7:31 — Waking Up Unable to Speak10:01 — Racing to the Hospital14:49 — The ER, the Diagnosis, and Six Days of Tests18:09 — What Actually Caused the Strokes22:11 — Little Grayson: Born in Chicago, Raised on Tennis25:06 — Ranked #1 in the Country at 1230:07 — College Tennis, IMG, and Realizing It Wasn't Enough34:11 — Life After Tennis: Insurance Sales and Real Estate37:39 — Discovering Pickleball at the Country Club46:14 — Flying to Atlanta, Going All-In52:17 — The Infamous Mixed Doubles Point with Shelby Bates1:04:49 — Power Tips and Branding Advice for Up-and-Comers1:07:17 — What the Strokes Taught Him About Pickleball and Life

Tama Shimabukuro is a 15-year-old professional pickleball player who became an overnight sensation after reaching the singles final at the Atlanta Slam, finishing fourth in men's doubles, and earning the full-throated backing of an entire crowd that couldn't stop chanting his name.In this episode, Tama calls in with Roscoe and Jared just days after his historic Atlanta run to break down what that week actually felt like from inside the storm. They cover the crowd moments, the mental game, and how a kid from Hawaii ends up on the sport's biggest stage.🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:00 — Tama on life after Atlanta1:34 — Was it an out-of-body experience?2:09 — The crowd, the chants, and the chaos4:03 — The MJ shrug explained6:25 — Messages flooding in after the run6:56 — Breaking down the Fed match8:48 — Is he actually that calm, or just built different?10:14 — Was the breakout a surprise?11:15 — Background: skateboarder to pickleball12:36 — Self-taught: 10 hours of rec a day14:16 — Life on the road with Mama Tama17:08 — Sponsorship and partnership questions18:19 — Pros he studies, dream doubles partners20:41 — Fan Q&A22:19 — Advice for young players23:48 — Toughest opponent so far24:26 — Message to new fans

Roscoe Bellamy is the co-host of The Pickleballers and a professional pickleball singles player currently ranked #6 in the world. A product of a tennis dynasty — his father founded Tennis Channel and his mother was a pro player — Roscoe rose to become the number one nationally ranked junior in the United States before a series of devastating injuries derailed his path to the pro tour.In this episode, Roscoe sits down with Jared and longtime friend Wesley Burroughs for a rare look at the man behind the mic. The conversation covers Roscoe's full journey from tennis prodigy to pro pickleball player, the mental shift that unlocked his best pickleball, and what it actually takes to compete at the top of the sport while running one of the game's biggest media brands.Roscoe opens up about the two years he lost to a stress fracture at fifteen — a period that stripped him of his identity as a top junior and sent him through a grueling rehab circuit alongside the likes of Anthony Davis and Mike Trout. Two hip surgeries in college effectively ended his pro dream, and it wasn't until a Hawaii trip with Hunter and Yates Johnson that pickleball entered the picture — leading to a sandbagged Pickleball Slam alongside Matt Manassie just two weeks into the sport.Roscoe also gets into the mental transformation that fueled his breakout 2025 run — winning his first PPA gold in Lakeland, reaching finals in Vegas, and finally finding the "dog" in his game that singles pickleball demands. He shares details on his new paddle deal with Luzz, his plans to launch the Pickleball Collective instructional platform, and his goal of finishing 2026 in the top three in the world.Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:10 — Introducing Roscoe & Wes2:20 — Growing Up in a Tennis Family5:00 — Becoming #1 in the Nation at 129:12 — Competing Internationally & the Pro Dream12:01 — The Back Injury That Changed Everything14:24 — Scholarship to UCLA & Hip Surgeries17:22 — Mom Discovers Pickleball20:34 — Going All In on Pickleball22:35 — Beating Agassi and Roddick for $10k25:15 — First Pro Tournament in Cincinnati27:46 — Signing During Tour Wars29:50 — The Mental Shift That Unlocked His Best Pickleball32:35 — Finding the Dog: Singles Is a War35:19 — Goals for 202638:32 — Balancing Pro Play, Content & The Podcast45:46 — Breaking Down the Competition53:13 — New Paddle Deal with Luzz54:53 — Life at Home, Family & Girlfriend

Alix Truong is the number one Vietnamese pickleball player in the world and currently ranked eighth on the PPA Tour. She's one of the sport's most compelling rising voices — a player who came up through every level of the game and is now helping grow pickleball across an entire continent.In this episode, Alix sits down with Roscoe and Jared to talk about her journey from a hyper-competitive Vietnamese-American household in Northern Virginia to the PPA Tour. They get into what it's like being a trailblazer for Asian representation in pickleball, the realities of grinding for points without a consistent partner, and why she sees herself playing well into her senior pro years.Alix breaks down what it was actually like going to Vietnam for the first time — working 13-hour days with no time to explore — and how returning on her own terms completely changed her relationship with her heritage. She describes being treated like a princess at tournaments, playing in front of a world-record crowd of 7,900 people in Đà Nẵng, and why she believes the Asian pickleball scene will eventually surpass the US in sheer scale.Alix also opens up about the burnout she hit during MLP last season, getting traded down to Challenger right after one of her best runs with Eric Johnson, and the heartbreak of losing her committed partner Lane to hip surgery just as they'd committed to building something real together. She's candid about what it means to be the only top-10 player without a consistent doubles partner — and what it's going to take to break through.🧢 Pickleballers Hat: https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechefTimestamps:1:04 — Introducing Alix Truong2:46 — Growing Up Vietnamese-American in DC5:36 — How She Found Pickleball Through Her Parents' Friend Group10:18 — First Big Tournaments and the Simone Foundation11:30 — Coming Up With Anna Leigh, Hayden, and Gabe13:22 — When Pickleball Stopped Being a Hobby16:23 — The Hard Conversation With Her Parents About Dropping Out18:17 — Building Her Brand From Day One20:09 — Going to Vietnam for the First Time21:17 — Being a Star in Asia and the 7,900-Person World Record Crowd23:46 — Sponsor Conversations and the Vietnamese Market Opportunity27:15 — How Asian Conditions Compare to the US30:19 — Playing With Her Brother LJ and the Sibling Dynamic34:05 — Her Ceiling and Competing in Anna Leigh's Era35:32 — Burnout, Getting Traded Down in MLP, and the Mental Toll40:42 — Losing Partner Lane to Hip Surgery Mid-Season43:00 — The Next Generation of Junior Players46:31 — The Future of Asian Pickleball in 5 Years51:44 — Learning Vietnamese and Falling in Love With the Culture54:59 — What Makes Anna Leigh Waters So Hard to Beat58:41 — 2026 Pickleball Predictions1:01:05 — The Olympics, Vietnamese Citizenship, and What's Next

Vivienne David is one of the most beloved players pickleball has ever had — a true fan favorite, a bright light on tour, and a former world No. 2 in mixed doubles who just announced she’s stepping away from pro pickleball.In this episode, Vivienne sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the real story behind her retirement — what tour life actually feels like when you’ve been grinding for years, why she’s at peace with the decision, and why she’s still playing more pickleball than she expected now that she’s free from constant travel and pressure.Vivienne opens up about her legendary partnership with Thomas Wilson — why it worked so well, why it felt effortless, and how losing that “partner in crime” changed everything for her mentally. She talks about Thomas’ health scare, how it shifted her perspective, and why it made her realize what mattered most beyond wins, rankings, and contracts.Vivienne shares her full backstory — growing up 1 of 7, being homeschooled, burning out from tennis young, working in her family’s tennis/pickle shop in Florida, and accidentally getting hooked after getting “whooped” by older players on demo day. She also breaks down what she wants next: faith, community, family, potentially coaching or commentating… and yes, the one scenario where she’d consider coming back to play tournaments again.Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘Pickleballers Hat:🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Add us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/pickleballershttps://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleballhttps://instagram.com/roscoebellamyhttps://instagram.com/jpaulthechef1:05 — How retirement feels: freedom, peace, still playing locally3:07 — Vivienne & Thomas Wilson: the partnership everyone loved5:01 — Why fans loved them7:30 — Vivienne’s backstory8:43 — Working at the family tennis/pickle shop10:17 — Abby David + early pickle roots11:58 — First time playing pickle12:50 — 2019 breakthrough14:08 — Turning pro: sponsors, early tour era, finding her lane in doubles15:36 — Entering PPA era16:24 — First MLP at Dreamland22:30 — Wanting to beat Anna Leigh24:12 — Partnership chemistry: why Vivienne + Thomas worked24:47 — How Vivienne brings out a partner’s best26:01 — Biggest tour moment27:05 — Thomas’ health scare29:01 — Why she retired: tour grind, body, family, missing life at home30:55 — Would she come back if Thomas returned?31:33 — New goals33:31 — Best player she faced: why Anna Leigh under pressure is different35:00 — Favorite shot + elite defense tips for amateurs37:02 — What’s next in pickleball

Andre Agassi is one of the most iconic athletes of all time — an 8-time Grand Slam champion, Olympic gold medalist, and a legend changed tennis forever.In this episode, Andre sits down with Roscoe and Jared to explain why he’s gone all-in on pickleball — not as a gimmick, not as a cameo, but because the sport genuinely hooked him. He breaks down what tennis players don’t understand yet: pickleball isn’t just “easy” — it’s insanely nuanced, mentally exhausting, and filled with tiny variables that change everything in real time. He even explains why two hours of tennis leaves him energized… but two hours of pickleball leaves him so mentally cooked he can’t even make it to the shower.Andre dives deep into his game and what he’s learning — what translates from tennis, what absolutely doesn’t, why the rhythm and “blood pressure” of pickleball is harder to manage, and why he’s become a right-side player focused on forehand dinks, two-handed counters, and deception. He also answers the big questions: tennis vs pickleball difficulty, what he would change about the sport (including a wild idea to widen the net posts), why pickleball struggles on TV with camera angles, how the Lifetime ball is changing singles, and why paddle “grab/spin” might matter more than pure power.Andre tells the story of playing the US Open with Anna Leigh Waters — including the one thought he couldn’t shake: “Don’t be the first person to lose with Anna Leigh.” He shares how a back injury nearly derailed the run, how fierce Anna Leigh is as a competitor, and why pickleball has genuinely changed his life — physically, mentally, and socially — even in his mid-50s.Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘Pickleballers Hat:🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Instagram:📲 @pickleballers📲 @thekitchenpickleball📲 @roscoebellamy📲 @jpaulthechef1:25 — Tennis vs pickle “animosity” + Andre’s take2:35 — The real reason he fell in love with pickleball4:28 — Small margins + why pickle is tricky for TV6:47 — Andre’s game: what translates from tennis + what he’s working on9:39 — Pickleball Slam prep: when he actually got committed11:30 — Roscoe’s Pickleball Slam story + why Andre matters to the sport12:59 — Tennis/pickle/padel: do they grow together or cannibalize?15:38 — Andre’s honesty: “Tennis is the Everest of racket sports”17:07 — Crazy poker story18:57 — US Open with Anna Leigh Waters22:06 — How Agassi x Joola partnership happened26:24 — Gambling in pickleball29:39 — Andre’s dinner speech to Joola pros31:23 — What pro would Andre play with?33:36 — What would he change in pickleball?40:08 — Singles evolution + the Lifetime ball changing44:50 — What’s harder: tennis or pickleball?47:01 — Carlos Alcaraz on a pickle court 52:53 — Pickleball Olympics path: college + scholarships54:13 — Legacy + why he wants to help grow the game55:38 — Has pickleball changed his life? #pickleballers #andreagassi #pickleball #ppa #mlp

Greg Dow is one of the funniest guys on the entire pickleball tour — a self-proclaimed “beer pong legend,” a legit pro who’s been battling top teams for years, and one of the best commentators in pickleball because he actually understands the game *and* knows how to make it entertaining.In this episode, Greg sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: growing up outside Charlotte, being a multi-sport kid (football, baseball, basketball), discovering tennis late, and finding pickleball during COVID back when “pro pickleball” barely existed and only a couple guys were making a real living.Then the conversation turns into pure tour-life gold.Greg breaks down how the iconic Dow & Scarpa partnership started, why they’ve stayed together for so long, and the real separator at the top level of men’s doubles — not the dink game, but the first 4–5 shots and getting quick points like the elite teams do. He also shares what it’s like living in the “round of 16 / quarterfinal door” tier of pro pickleball, how close they’ve been to massive breakthrough wins, and what he’s focused on to make real noise in 2026.And of course… we get into the chaos: Scarpa’s legendary sweat problem (yes, matches have been paused to mop the kitchen), Greg’s brutal TV finals loss (11–0, 11–0), how he met Alex Walker (the most ridiculous “Canada” conversation ever), and how his commentating evolved from “how ludicrous can I be?” to being taken seriously — including the infamous moment that got the league to send an email telling commentators to stop calling players “cute.”Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘Pickleballers Hat:🧢 [https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521](https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521)1:13 Greg wrote his own PPA bio + “Dinking with Dow” pod era3:10 Why Greg needs more spotlight in pickleball6:00 Why everyone’s so serious on tour (and why Greg stands out)8:05 Greg’s childhood: Charlotte suburbs, multi-sport kid, ping pong battles10:27 Tennis late start + finding pickleball during COVID12:16 Charleston pickleball scene + TC North shoutout14:04 What transferred most: touch, hands, ping pong instincts15:16 How “Dow & Scarpa” became a real team18:20 The Scarpa sweat problem (and stopping matches to mop the kitchen)21:57 The early pro path: grinding 5.0, learning to win, then moving up23:09 Hot take: you shouldn’t play pro until you’ve won 5.025:27 “Round of 16” life: why breaking through in doubles is so hard26:29 The separator: quick points in the first 4–5 shots (serve/return/3rd/5th)30:35 Where to aim your third shot31:46 2026 goals33:19 Full Greg Dow potential36:03 Level-up concept: make weaknesses “not weaknesses”37:42 How Greg got into commentating39:14 The infamous “calling players cute” commentary moment + league email42:07 Story time: first finals run… and the 11–0, 11–0 beatdown on TV46:28 Alex Walker love story54:39 Austin to Arizona move55:28 Dow Questions of the Week: pickleball boy band draft1:00:18 Who’s the mayor of pickleball?1:01:43 Build the perfect pickleball player1:05:04 What to expect in 2026#PPA #MLP #Pickleball #Greg Dow

Genie Bouchard is one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation — a former world No. 5, Wimbledon finalist, and one of the biggest tennis stars to ever come out of Canada.From growing up in Montreal, to moving to Florida at 12 to chase tennis full time, Genie’s story is all sacrifice, pressure, and competing on the biggest stages in the world. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full journey: the abnormal junior life, winning Junior Wimbledon at 18, cracking the Top 100 in a year, and what it actually feels like walking onto Centre Court at Wimbledon — including the mindset, nerves, and reality of playing a Wimbledon final.Then the conversation turns to pickleball.Genie breaks down why she signed with the PPA, what it was like starting 0–9 in her first tournaments, dealing with expectations and noise from the outside, and how she’s gone from “tennis star trying pickleball” to a legit threat making finals and beating top players. She also talks MLP pressure, doubles being a whole different world, paddle switches, and why this new chapter has brought her more happiness and stability than tennis ever allowed.Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘Pickleballers Hat:🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Instagram:📲 @pickleballers📲 @thekitchenpickleball📲 @roscoebellamy📲 @jpaulthechef1:04 Welcome + Genie’s intro3:36 Growing up in Montreal, moving to Florida at 124:18 Abnormal childhood: school + training grind7:31 Leaving home young + Florida academy life9:14 Going pro vs college11:52 DoorDash giveaway mention12:37 Winning Junior Wimbledon at 18 + why it mattered15:15 Top 100 timeline + getting stuck in the minors17:41 Branding, spotlight, and being “different” early on18:09 Anna Kournikova, fame, and unfair criticism21:00 Social media authenticity23:33 Hatred, privacy, and staying genuine29:38 Has it been hard being Genie Bouchard?31:25 Wimbledon Centre Court: what it feels like33:05 Wimbledon final pressure + physical nerves36:51 Pivot to pickleball: why it happened37:53 PPA signing process (2023) + what appealed to her44:17 Pickleball “validation moments” + the sport arriving45:06 First pro tournament pressure + internet expectations50:34 0–9 start: first wins and breaking through52:03 MLP pressure53:05 Franklin paddle ad53:23 Proton partnership54:07 Vietnam trip + team bonding55:40 Making finals, real results, and new motivation57:31 Number one vs “knocking on the number two door”58:15 Playing vocal opponents1:00:07 Tennis vs pickleball: what’s more fun?1:01:49 How fast could Coco Gauff be top 5 in pickleball?1:04:15 How long will Genie play + what’s next?1:05:45 Favorite people on tour + Ryan Sherry stories1:09:33 Message to the pickleball audience1:10:22 Tennis vs pickleball

Lucy Kovalova is one of the OG queens of pickleball — a former world number one, multiple-time triple crown winner, and one of the most feared right-side players of all time.From a tiny village in Slovakia to Wichita State with no English, to “accidentally” becoming the best in the world, Lucy has lived every chapter of pickleball’s rise. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story: chasing pro tennis across Europe, landing in Kansas without knowing what D1 even was, discovering pickleball through a made-up paddle game… and then quietly becoming one of the best players on the planet.She opens up about the first US Open in Naples, forming superteams with Irina Tereschenko and Simone Jardim, the golden era of grindy dinking, dominating women’s doubles with Simone, the rivalry years as new talent flooded in, what really separates the top women’s teams today, how the PPA Tour turned pickleball into a real career, and why her relationship with the sport has evolved from pure love of the game to business, purpose, and legacy.Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘Pickleballers Hat:🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521Instagram:📲 @pickleballers📲 @thekitchenpickleball📲 @roscoebellamy📲 @jpaulthechef0:00 Lucy Kovalova intro and “accidental” world number one1:03 Welcome back to Pickleballers delivered by DoorDash2:20 Growing up in Slovakia: small village, tennis and ballroom dancing4:18 The brutal pro tennis grind and trying to “make it” in Europe5:43 Burnout, quitting tennis and deciding to go to college in the US6:51 Landing at Wichita State with no English and becoming freshman of the year9:04 College life, international crew and first impressions of Americans11:05 Staying in Wichita, coaching at the club and discovering pickleball13:04 The made-up paddle game, first temp courts and saying yes to US Open Naples15:02 First US Open: women’s doubles, slow dinking and singles ATP vs Simone17:14 Early mixed results with Matt and when they started dating20:21 Winning TOC and Nationals and realizing they were a top mixed team24:48 Women’s partnerships: Irina, Simone, Callie and building superteams26:58 Dominating with Simone and the rise of new rivals29:34 Inside the rivalry era and five-game wars on the PPA Tour35:31 Respecting Anna Leigh as a player and Lucy’s perspective on that era41:35 When pickleball became a full-time career and the rise of the PPA43:32 From love of the game to business: contracts, sponsors and pressure44:39 Looking ahead: two more years, legacy and being the “cool aunt”46:00 Could she just coach, commentate or watch without playing?50:06 What separates the top women’s teams in modern pickleball51:13 Missing the old dinking era and thoughts on the wooden paddle event54:11 PPA superlatives: funniest, smartest, loudest, best trash talk and more55:31 How Lucy wants to be remembered on tour and on court56:03 Life after pro pickleball, teaching at the club and ballroom dreams56:50 Craziest match she’s ever played and final thoughts#Lucykovalova #Mattwright #PPA #MLP #Pickleball