Aleksandar Kovacevic pickleball criticism: During an interview at the Copa Cap Cana Challenger 175 in the Dominican Republic, tennis player Aleksandar Kovacevic criticized pickleball, calling it a “joke” as a professional sport. Kovacevic, ranked 79th in the world, shared his strong views while reflecting on his career and recent tournament success.
Kovacevic’s Views on Pickleball
Kovacevic did not hold back when asked about pickleball’s growing popularity in the United States, especially on the East Coast.
“I hate pickleball! I think it’s a very dumbed down version of tennis. As a serious professional sport, I don’t respect it. At all. Now, as a sport for a recreational purposes, yeah, go for it,” (Aleksandar Kovacevic).
He added,
“The reason that it is popular in the States is because it gets people out to exercise. Obviously I support that. It’s very accessible. Kind of like cornhole or something to play. Go for it. It’s a fun game. You can get your family playing.
I can get my grandpa to come out and he’ll probably be ok at it in like 20 minutes. But for a real professional sport, it’s a joke. A lot of the guys that are anything ranked seriously in that sport they are all coming from tennis, they couldn’t make it in tennis.”
Respect for Padel, Struggles with Tennis
In the same conversation, Kovacevic compared pickleball to padel, a sport he respects much more.
“That’s a super cool sport that I do respect a lot. Very athletic. A cool variation from tennis, where you have to develop a lot of skills. It adds some kind of flair, you need to control the bounce from the walls. But pickleball? No, not for me,” (Aleksandar Kovacevic).
Kovacevic also shared personal struggles with tennis, admitting there were times he hated it: “Tennis can put you in pretty dark places.” However, he now sees tennis as a blessing after realizing his talent.
Impact and What Comes Next
Kovacevic’s comments add to the ongoing debate about pickleball’s rise in popularity and its place in professional sports. As pickleball grows, strong opinions like his could spark more discussions among athletes and fans. Meanwhile, Kovacevic’s focus remains on building his tennis career after winning the Copa Cap Cana Challenger.
News in Brief: Aleksandar Kovacevic pickleball criticism
Aleksandar Kovacevic, ranked 79th in tennis, called pickleball a “joke” during an interview at Copa Cap Cana. He said it is a “dumbed-down version of tennis” and not a real professional sport. Kovacevic respects padel more and believes pickleball’s popularity is mainly due to its easy access.
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