Lauren Mercado’s Pickleball Journey: Eighteen-year-old Lauren Mercado, a Filipino-American athlete, has become a rising star in the Pickleball Pro Circuit. What began as a simple family activity during the COVID-19 lockdown has now turned into a serious career for Lauren and an emerging path for her younger brother, Lex Mercado.
Finding Pickleball During the Pandemic
During the early days of COVID-19, many families stayed home. Lauren Mercado and her family looked for ways to stay active. Lauren had stopped playing AAU basketball and needed something new.
“I started during COVID when I stopped traveling for AAU basketball,” Lauren said in a GMA Pinoy TV feature.
The family picked up paddles at Cougar Creek Pickleball Courts. They weren’t very good at first, but that didn’t last.
“It looked interesting, so we tried it as a family. We were actually really bad at first, and we were like, ‘Oh no, we can’t be this bad in sport,’” said Erika Paman Mercado, Lauren and Lex’s mother.
A New Passion and Competitive Drive
Lauren quickly took to the game. Her background in basketball helped her learn fast and compete. She began training seriously and entering tournaments.
“I discovered my love for pickleball because of my parents. They were the ones who introduced me to the sport,” said Lauren.
Soon, she was playing on the Pickleball Pro Circuit.
“She’s been playing in the pro circuit for the last two years now,” said Erika.
Lex Mercado also got into the sport after too much time spent playing video games. His parents signed him up for a tournament to help him get active again.
“I used to sit down and play video games for like eight to nine hours a day. Then my parents put me in a tournament just to get me out of the house,” Lex said.
That tournament changed his mindset.
“I played up against other juniors, and I thought, ‘Ooh, this is fun. I wanna get good,’” said Lex.
Family Support and Filipino Traditions
Erika and her husband supported their children’s interest in pickleball. They provided training and got help from friends and family for tournament travel.
“The athlete in us—and the competitive drive—we wanted to train our kids to be better. And we’re just lucky to have so much support from friends and family who help us get them to tournaments,” Erika said.
Even with their busy schedules, the Mercado family stays close to their Filipino culture.
“We definitely embrace the culture a lot. We always say ‘mahal kita,’ and we have this bonding tradition called Igado Friday and Monday,” Lauren said.
Igado is a pork and liver dish from the Ilocano region. Lauren and her dad enjoy it at a local restaurant twice a week.
“There’s a restaurant that only serves Igado on Fridays and Mondays, so that’s our thing. It’s our bonding time,” Lauren said.
Looking Ahead in Pickleball
Lauren trains daily and continues to compete at a high level.
“I definitely think if you work hard at what you love, you’ll be able to achieve anything. I just put a lot of work in and I train every day,” Lauren said.
Lex is also excited about what’s ahead.
“It’s so cool to just be able to travel now. I get to go to other countries, other states, and meet lots of new people. Everyone’s so nice. The community of pickleball is what makes pickleball,” said Lex.
Their journey from a public park to professional courts shows what’s possible with family, effort, and strong cultural roots.
“I just hope that with what they’re doing, they can inspire other kids, other Filipino athletes, to follow in their footsteps,” Erika said.
“To know that they can be great at something new, even if it starts in a public park during a pandemic.”
News in Brief: Lauren Mercado’s Pickleball Journey
Lauren Mercado went from backyard play to the Pickleball Pro Circuit, joined by her brother Lex. With support from parents Erika and Mr. Mercado, they train hard while keeping Filipino traditions alive. The family’s story proves that with effort and love, new passions can become powerful legacies.
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