The Dink Pickleball Newsletter: Keith Hernandez Slips Up in Spring Training, The Best Shot In Pickleball, and The Newest High School Sport
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Phew, everyone take a deep breath. It was a wild weekend of pro pickleball in Mesa that concluded with a marathon day of championship matches.
On Saturday, fans saw Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters take their first loss in over 300 days. The world’s No.1 ranked player Federico Staksrud was hit with two technical point penalties in a frustrating semifinal loss.
There’s officially a new team to beat in men’s doubles and ALW put on a singles performance that we’ve never seen before. More details below.
Let’s dive in.
Our Picks ??
??? Quote: A Different Approach to the Game
Have you ever wondered how Andrei Daescu stays locked in on the court? After his back-to-back title win, Daescu shared his mindset going into every match, “Play every point like it’s the last point you’ll ever play.” Great motivation - just be wary bringing that 'do or die' energy to your next rec game.
?? The Land: Cleveland Turns Abandoned Warehouse into Facility
Drew Carey’s favorite city is severely lacking when it comes to places to play. A once dilapidated warehouse that had trees growing inside and was condemned by the state of Ohio is now Cleveland’s pickleball gem. The Cleveland Pickleball Center hosted its grand opening last Friday.
?? Distraction: Keith Hernandez Slips Up in Spring Training
New York Mets broadcast announcer Keith Hernandez got ‘distracted’ by the local pickleball scene during a spring training game on Saturday. Who among us hasn’t been at their day job wishing they were at the pickleball court instead?
?? College Courts: Roll Tide Rally
The University of Alabama football may no longer be the undeniable powerhouse it was once, but the Crimson Tide student body has something else to look forward to this year. The school’s board approved a $1.6M project to add 10 pickleball courts to campus.
The Most Fun Shot in Pickleball
What’s your favorite shot in pickleball?
It’s hard to beat an ATP winner or a drive that goes untouched down the middle, but try this one on for size. It’s the fourth shot erne.
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio are in a stacked formation. Johns returns the serve, then attempts to unwind the stack. As Johns travels across the court, he spots Alshon targeting a drop down the line.
Johns flies over the kitchen and smacks home the erne to complete the highlight.
What makes the shot so satisfying is that your momentum is already moving forward as you approach the kitchen line. You get a running start into the erne and can really let loose on the ball.
It also limits your opponents’ third shot options. You better believe they will think twice about hitting a ball that close to the line again. That means they will likely target the middle of the court which could result in more high balls and easy fourths.
Look for this opportunity next time you’re on the court and don’t be afraid to whiff or get the timing wrong, it happens to the best of us.
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Mesa Madness
There was something in the water last weekend in Mesa. The world’s top doubles team took their first loss in nearly a year, players were uncommonly angry on the court and we saw three matches go to five games on Championship Sunday.
Bucket Hat Brigade
Anna Bright and Dekel Bar entered the tournament with a laissez-faire attitude rocking new matching bucket hats on Wednesday. The relaxed attitude led them to what might be the biggest upset of the year, a semifinal win over Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.
Tension was high around a packed championship court on Saturday as the match landed on a 9-9 tie in game three. On match point, an Anna Bright attack kissed off the tape and landed on the line to seal the upset.
Their luck ran out on Championship Sunday as a locked-in Jorja Johnson was the difference in the Johnsons winning their first gold medal together since 2023.
A Gritty Sunday
Championship Sunday was far from a cakewalk for ALW. In the singles final, she took a game-one beatdown from Brooke Buckner. It looked like all was lost in game two but ALW dug deep and grinded her way back to an impressive 4-11, 11-9, 11-5 win.
That win came on top of a five-game battle with ‘The Girlies’ earlier in the day that had the crowd getting rowdy. Waters and Catherine Parenteau took that one to secure ALW’s double crown.
Back-to-Back
The men’s doubles final was also a five-game bout. Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu struck first, bagging the first two games. The crowd helped rally Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns to win the next two but Alshon/Daescu closed the door in game five to win back-to-back titles.
It’s hard to imagine but we’re just scratching the surface. Find the full recap here.
PPA Mesa Cup Results
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The Newest High School Sport
Billy Madison isn’t the only one going back to school. Pickleball’s reverse aging process of spreading from retirement homes to high schools took another step last week.
DUPR is putting high school pickleball on the map with the first-ever National Pathway, giving young ballers a shot at state and national titles. No more just playing for fun—this is the proving ground for the next generation of killers on the court.
The National Pathway will include different competition options ranging from individual singles play, to full 4 vs 4 co-ed team play like you see in Major League Pickleball and in The Dink Minor League Pickleball.
The inaugural event kicks off April 25-27 at Life Time in Lakeville, MN. Want to get your school involved? Read more here.
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Meet the 2025 USA Pickleball National Team
The 2025 Association of Pickleball Players USA Pickleball National Team roster has been announced, featuring an elite lineup of the country’s top talent. These athletes will represent the U.S. in global pickleball events powered by the APP.
This year’s team showcases a mix of returning stars and rising players, all demonstrating exceptional skill, strategy, and dedication to the sport.
The APP National Team roster includes:
Congrats to the new National Team roster, read more about their journey here.
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