Rachel Rohrabacher’s Pickleball Journey: Rachel Rohrabacher, ranked number four in the world for women’s doubles pickleball, shared how her career has grown from a childhood choice between sports to professional success. Rachel Rohrabacher, who is from Tampa, Florida, is also ranked eighth in mixed doubles and turned pro in 2023 after a strong tennis background.
Choosing Tennis Over Gymnastics
Rachel Rohrabacher faced a big decision at age 12 when she had to pick between gymnastics and tennis. She said, “my parents couldn’t afford to keep me in both high-level sports because as we know like one high-level sport is a lot of money a lot of time commitment.”
Rachel Rohrabacher explained that her parents thought tennis offered more scholarship chances and a longer career. “I don’t really remember which one I chose, but I do know my parents really were pushing tennis just because it’s a lifelong sport,” she said.
Leaving Tennis for Pickleball
Rachel Rohrabacher’s introduction to pickleball came later. Her old tennis coach suggested it when her back problems made tennis too painful. She said, “I actually couldn’t continue. He reintroduced it to me in 2019…the constant like twisting from the shots in tennis were wearing my back down.”
She explained how pickleball’s style of play allowed her to stay active.
Building Her Own Style
At first, Rachel Rohrabacher looked to other players for inspiration. “I felt like Anna Bright and I had very similar games,” she said. Later, she learned new shots by studying Katherine Preno’s skills. Over time, she added different techniques to her own game.
Using Social Work Skills on the Court
Rachel Rohrabacher earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of South Florida. She hopes to become a therapist someday. “I think it absolutely helps, you know, just I mean, it’s interpersonal skills, right? Like learning how to be a therapist,” she said.
She explained that her training helped her handle pressure and support her teammates without letting stress affect her.
Looking Ahead in Pickleball
Rachel Rohrabacher plans to keep growing in pickleball. “I don’t want to stop anytime soon, but I would love to, I don’t know, work something out,” she said about her long-term goals. She also wants to help grow the game and hopes to bring more mental health support into the sport.
Motivation to Be the Best
Rachel Rohrabacher shared that her drive comes from her competitive spirit. “Honestly, just I’m super competitive. I really don’t like to lose and I just want to be the best I can be,” she said.
She added, “I just really try hard to do like look if one day I get injured or whenever I’m done I want to look back and be like, you know, I did everything I could have to be the best I could.”
What She Loves About Pickleball
Rachel Rohrabacher described why the sport means so much to her. “Like it’s given them a sense of community. It’s given them purpose,” she said. She also enjoys how quickly people can improve and how close fans and players feel.
News in Brief: Rachel Rohrabacher’s Pickleball Journey
Rachel Rohrabacher, a top pickleball pro, shared her journey from tennis to pickleball. Back issues ended her tennis career, but pickleball gave her a new path. She hopes to grow the sport, help others, and one day combine her love of the game with her training in social work.
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