Long Yufei’s Pickleball Career Leap: Long Yufei, a 26-year-old from Shenzhen, China, has put her PhD studies on hold to chase a career in professional pickleball. She was accepted into the new United Pickleball Association’s Asia Trailblazers Programme, which includes three months of training in the United States and a chance to join the UPA Asia Pro team.
Long had planned to start a doctoral program in biomedical informatics in the United States, with offers from the University of Washington and Washington University in St. Louis. But when the pickleball opportunity came up, she made the tough decision to delay her studies.
Choosing Pickleball Over a PhD
Long Yufei holds a Master’s degree in public health from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She said she had already spent a lot of time working on research plans and applying to schools before the pickleball offer appeared.
“I had invested months crafting potential research proposals and preparing applications,”. “The sunk cost was high,” she said. “I spent the whole of February evaluating the best option … I was choosing between two different life trajectories.”(Long Yufei)
In the end, Long said her family, mentors, and friends helped her make the choice.
“I am very grateful for them and the fact that I have the privilege to have these cool opportunities to choose from,” (Long Yufei).
From Tennis to Pickleball
Before switching to pickleball, Long Yufei played NCAA Division I tennis at Vanderbilt University and was the senior captain at Boston College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology. After finishing college tennis, she said she missed the excitement of competition and started looking into new sports.
“[Pickleball] rekindled that drive while introducing me to new challenges,”. “When I went to my first local tournament, I realised I could not rely on my power and tennis technique only. Unlike tennis, pickleball demands more patience and precision than raw power. The ‘kitchen’ battles require split-second decisions and fine motor control, creating a different tactical challenge than tennis.”(Long Yufei)
In pickleball, the “kitchen” is the no-volley zone near the net.
Long, who also enjoys playing badminton and table tennis, said she believes pickleball could one day become an Olympic sport.
“Representing my country on that stage would be the ultimate dream,”. “If the Olympic opportunity presents itself, it will shape my competitive timeline and training focus over the coming years.”(Long Yufei)
Competing on the World Stage
Long Yufei is currently ranked No. 71 in women’s singles by the Professional Pickleball Association. She won the Baton Rouge PPA Challenger in Louisiana in April and is expected to compete in the first PPA Tour Asia this year.
The tour will feature five events, including four in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Fukuoka between July and August. It will end back in Kuala Lumpur in October. The biggest event, the China Slam, will take place in early October and will offer a US$1 million prize pool. Top players from around the world are expected to join.
The Hong Kong Open will be held from August 21 to 24 at the Kai Tak Arena, which has 10,000 seats. It will offer a prize pool of US$50,000. The Kuala Lumpur Cup will award US$500,000.
Looking Ahead
Long Yufei’s decision shows how athletes are now choosing new paths in growing sports like pickleball. With top international events and Olympic dreams on the horizon, her move could inspire other young athletes to try the sport. Whether she returns to her PhD studies later or not, Long is giving her all to make the most of this opportunity.
News in Brief: Long Yufei’s Pickleball Career Leap
Long Yufei from Shenzhen has postponed her PhD to focus on pickleball. The former college tennis player joined the UPA Asia Trailblazers and will train in the US. She’s set to compete in major Asian events, including the China Slam and Hong Kong Open, as her pro pickleball journey begins.
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