Genie Bouchard: Mastering the Balance Between Tennis and Pickleball

Quick Hitter:
Genie Bouchard, a former WTA No. 5, is successfully navigating her careers in both tennis and pickleball, while also exploring sports commentary and modeling.

Key Points:

• Genie Bouchard is balancing commitments between tennis and pickleball.

• She is preparing for the 2025 Pickleball Slam at Mandalay Bay Resort, competing alongside tennis legends.

• Bouchard describes the transition between tennis and pickleball as highly challenging, similar to "patting your head and rubbing your tummy."

• She is expanding her career to include sports commentary and modeling, showcasing her versatile athletic personality.

Key Takeaways:
Genie Bouchard's transition from a top WTA competitor to a professional pickleball player underscores the growing popularity of pickleball. Her participation in the 2025 Pickleball Slam, alongside tennis icons, highlights the crossover appeal between the two sports and demonstrates the importance of versatility in modern athletic careers.

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Ben Stiller's 'The Dink' Brings Pickleball to the Big Screen

Quick Hitter:
Ben Stiller is set to produce and star in the pickleball comedy 'The Dink', featuring a stellar cast and a storyline that highlights the sport's competitiveness and community spirit.

Key Points:

• The film stars Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Ben Stiller, and former tennis champion Andy Roddick.

• Jake Johnson plays a washed-up tennis pro who must play pickleball to save a club in crisis and earn his father's respect.

• Filming is scheduled to begin in November 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

• The movie aims to inspire new pickleball players while showcasing the sport's competitiveness and community aspects.

• Josh Greenbaum will direct the film, based on an original screenplay by Sean Clements.

Key Takeaways:
Ben Stiller's 'The Dink' is a significant milestone for pickleball, showcasing its mainstream appeal and potential to attract a broader audience. With a star-studded cast, including Jake Johnson and Andy Roddick, this film could inspire a new wave of players and solidify pickleball's cultural impact in America.

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Anna Leigh Waters: The Million-Dollar Pickleball Phenom

Quick Hitter:
At just 17 years old, Anna Leigh Waters is on track to become the highest-paid pickleball player, projected to earn over $3 million in 2024, driven by her exceptional skills, lucrative endorsements, and the sport's burgeoning popularity.

Key Points:

• Anna Leigh Waters, 17, is set to earn over $3 million in 2024, making her the highest-paid pickleball player.

• She began playing pickleball in 2017 during the evacuation for Hurricane Irma and quickly rose as a professional prodigy.

• Waters competes for the New Jersey 5's in Major League Pickleball, enhancing the sport's visibility and appeal.

• She has secured endorsements with prominent brands like Fila, Paddletek, and Franklin Sports, boosting pickleball's marketability and commercial value.

Key Takeaways:
Anna Leigh Waters is revolutionizing the pickleball landscape with her remarkable talent and significant earnings. Her dominance and high-profile endorsements could push pickleball into mainstream sports culture, attracting new players and sponsors, and solidifying its position in the competitive sports market.

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Trulieve Makes History as First Cannabis Sponsor of Professional Pickleball

Quick Hitter:

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has partnered with the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, marking a significant milestone as the first cannabis company to sponsor professional pickleball events. This partnership targets the 13.6 million pickleball players in the U.S. and aims to educate fans about the benefits of cannabis through twelve tournaments starting in September 2024.

Key Points:

• Trulieve Cannabis Corp. becomes the first cannabis company to partner with the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.

• The partnership includes sponsorship of twelve premier tournaments, starting with the CIBC Atlanta Slam in September 2024.

• Trulieve aims to educate fans on cannabis benefits while enhancing engagement within the growing pickleball community.

• The collaboration highlights 13.6 million U.S. pickleball enthusiasts, merging sports entertainment with cannabis culture.

Key Takeaways:

Trulieve’s unprecedented partnership with the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball signals a transformative blending of cannabis culture with sports. With twelve key tournaments ahead, this collaboration not only amplifies pickleball's rapidly expanding community but also positions Trulieve as a pioneer in educating fans on cannabis benefits.

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