John Isner Reflects on Pickleball: John Isner, renowned for holding the record for the fastest serve in ATP history at a staggering 157.2 MPH, visited the PicklePod this week. With an impressive career high of world No. 8 in singles and No. 14 in doubles, and 16 singles titles to his name, Isner’s serve has long been a force to be reckoned with in tennis. In this episode, he joins hosts Thomas Shields and Zane Navratil to dive into a discussion about his transition from tennis to pickleball, exploring the intersections of the two sports.
Isner’s Perspective on Pickleball
Isner first encountered pickleball three years ago, and although he initially had doubts about the sport’s staying power, he now embraces it. “I’m happy to say I was wrong,” he admits, acknowledging his initial skepticism. His perspective shifted after observing players like Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and Donald Young take the sport seriously. He confessed, “I thought [Sam Querrey] was joking” when Querrey made the switch from pro tennis to pro pickleball.
DUPR and Tennis Transition
When asked about his DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), Isner humorously guesses, “If Ben [Johns] is a seven, then I think I’m a 3.5.” In reality, his DUPR is 5.276. Isner notes that tennis pros in pickleball aren’t training as rigorously as they did for tennis, partly because pickleball is less physically demanding and perceived as less serious. Despite this, he believes that if Jack Sock dedicates a year to pickleball, “he’d be the best.”
Questions from the Boys
The conversation includes some playful banter with questions from “the boys,” including Sam Querrey, Wes Burrows, Donald Young, and Jack Sock. Zane humorously brings up a story about Querrey allegedly trying to harm Isner’s dog, to which Isner quips, “Sam is soulless.” The episode also promotes the podcast “Nothing Major,” where these friends discuss tennis and pickleball in more depth.
The Serve Rules Debate
Post-interview, Zane, and Thomas explore into the hot topic of potential serve rule changes in pickleball. Zane suggests that the drop serve might be the best solution, while Thomas offers a counterpoint. They also touch on ONIX’s lawsuit over thermoformed paddles and recent PPA Bristol results.
News in brief: John Isner Reflects on Pickleball
John Isner, renowned for his record-breaking tennis serve, recently appeared on the PicklePod to discuss his shift in attitude towards pickleball. Initially doubtful about pickleball’s future, Isner now embraces the sport after seeing peers like Sam Querrey and Jack Sock take it seriously.
While he humorously guessed his DUPR rating to be 3.5, it’s 5.276. He noted that tennis pros aren’t training as intensely in pickleball, and if Jack Sock dedicates a year, he could excel. The episode also covers debates on potential pickleball serve rule changes and recent legal and competitive issues in the sport.
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