PicklePod

The biggest indoor pickleball business story of the year collides with a wild Chicago recap, and the debate around Annalee Waters, Ben Johns, and the future of pro pickleball gets surprisingly deep fast. If you want the sharpest takes on the PPA Chicago chaos, the Pickler bankruptcy, and the next wave of stars, this is the episode.

Zane and Nico break down everything that mattered from Chicago, starting with Annalee Waters hitting 200 PPA golds at 19 and the uncomfortable question nobody else wants to ask: what is left for her to chase? They also dig into Ben Johns’ latest doubles stumble, the pressure of playing with him, and why Jack Sock and Bruno/Anwar completely changed the feel of the men’s draw.

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🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

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#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

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-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

1:42 Zane’s Australian hotel

4:17 Ranking US cities that are better than Sacramento

7:40 Anna Leigh Waters wins 200th PPA Gold

18:53 Nico's semi-pro ball knowledge

25:50 Men’s doubles recap with Ben and Jack

33:12 Big H stirs the pot with Eric Oncins

36:16 Men’s singles race + the new Flying Frenchman

44:57 Women’s doubles results + top ten rankings

53:50 Quick mixed doubles recap

57:01 Picklr bankruptcy

1:06:21 1% of players are 5.0s

1:10:42 MEAN COMMENTS

1:24:56 Guess my DUPR

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The biggest indoor pickleball business story of the year collides with a wild Chicago recap, and the debate around Annalee Waters, Ben Johns, and the future of pro pickleball gets surprisingly deep fast. If you want the sharpest takes on the PPA Chicago chaos, the Pickler bankruptcy, and the next wave of stars, this is the episode.

Zane and Nico break down everything that mattered from Chicago, starting with Annalee Waters hitting 200 PPA golds at 19 and the uncomfortable question nobody else wants to ask: what is left for her to chase? They also dig into Ben Johns’ latest doubles stumble, the pressure of playing with him, and why Jack Sock and Bruno/Anwar completely changed the feel of the men’s draw.

💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

------------------

0:00 Intro

1:42 Zane’s Australian hotel

4:17 Ranking US cities that are better than Sacramento

7:40 Anna Leigh Waters wins 200th PPA Gold

18:53 Nico's semi-pro ball knowledge

25:50 Men’s doubles recap with Ben and Jack

33:12 Big H stirs the pot with Eric Oncins

36:16 Men’s singles race + the new Flying Frenchman

44:57 Women’s doubles results + top ten rankings

53:50 Quick mixed doubles recap

57:01 Picklr bankruptcy

1:06:21 1% of players are 5.0s

1:10:42 MEAN COMMENTS

1:24:56 Guess my DUPR

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Anna Bright joins Zane and Nico after her gold-medal run in Las Vegas to explain the moment everyone was talking about: challenging a ball at 10-0 with a double pickle on the line.

In this episode, Anna opens up about her competitive mindset, her partnership with Anna Lee, and why she won’t apologize for playing to win. She also talks about returning from a solo backpacking trip through Vietnam, how her game is evolving, and whether she sees herself as a stronger right-side or left-side player.

Plus, Zane and Nico break down the biggest stories from Vegas: Anna and Hayden’s mixed doubles gold, Ben Johns’ singles run, Kiera Kikumoto’s breakout, Nico Acevedo’s rise, and the debate over pay equity in pickleball. They also revisit the Christian Alshon–DJ Young ball standoff, pick dream partnerships in a new matchmaker segment, and get into comments, paddle talk, and another round of Guess My DUPR.

👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

4:27 Ben Johns back on the singles podium

9:28 Ben is 14-1 against Christian Alshon

11:14 Anna Bright joins the pod

15:28 Locking in with Hayden for gold

18:50 Anna Bright went solo to Vietnam

22:47 Which pro would struggle on a solo trip to Vietnam?

26:31 The most ruthless challenge we’ve ever seen

33:51 Catherine and Tyra challenge the champs

37:28 Analyzing the mixed finals win

39:45 Can you be the best in the world from the right side?

43:29 Who do you like beating the most?

51:35 A new challenger for the women’s singles crown

57:17 Nico Acevedo proves he’s a top 10 player

59:20 Mean comments

1:11:46 Guess my DUPR

1:15:10 Matchmaker partnerships

1:20:09 Illegal paddles + the Ben Johns - Jack Sock partnership

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Zane Navratil is a PPA gold medalist again—and Nico Acevedo nearly turned a grueling tournament run into a championship of his own. Zane shares what made PPA Barcelona feel like a throwback, while Nico joins the conversation to unpack his breakout performance alongside Yuta Funemizu.

Nico talks about going from college tennis to the pro pickleball tour, the support that helped him take the leap, and how he and Yuta fought through a string of demanding matches. Their run included wins over Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud, close calls, match-point battles, and a marathon final.

The conversation also gets into the details behind Nico’s dangerous backhand flick, the balance work that helps him reach and recover, and the communication and mindset that powered the team. Zane shares his take on the European circuit, the MLP Nations Cup, and why the next wave of international players could raise the level quickly.

Plus: Guess My DUPR, listener comments, serve-rule debate, and plenty of PicklePod banter.

👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

3:17 Zane wins gold in Spain

9:28 Zane’s likes and dislikes in Spain

13:55 There is opportunity for players in Europe

22:45 Shout out to Judit Castillo

24:14 Nation’s Cup should borrow from Little League World Series

31:16 Guess my DUPR

35:57 Mean comments

Nico Acevedo

42:31 Nico Acevedo joins the pod

43:41 Johnny Goldberg tribute

50:40 Nico played soccer... and tennis

53:01 Believing you can win against the world’s best

57:10 What are comms like with Yuta?

59:33 The secret to Nico’s backhand flick

1:04:34 Mistaking Nico for Nico

1:07:23 Reliving the finals run

1:13:03 Late matches and getting heated with Christian

1:17:13 Nico’s future partners

1:23:21 Best forehand dink in pickleball

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One of the wildest pickleball Sundays in a long time just got even crazier. A 15 seed nearly hijacks men’s doubles, a bird literally crashes the singles final, and the new PPA format changes are already reshaping who gets rewarded, who gets punished, and who might be gaming the system.

Nico and Zane break down the finals day in Mesa from top to bottom, starting with Chris Haworth vs Federico Staksrud and the absurd momentum swing that followed the most bizarre replay of the weekend. Then they unpack the run of the tournament: Yuta Funemizu and Nico Acevedo storming through the draw, saving match points, ripping off upset after upset, and coming within touching distance of a title that would have rewritten the sport’s rankings logic.

👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM

💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

6:09 Chris Haworth receives luck from above

9:09 An epic run in men's doubles

17:31 Is Yuta the most slept on? Nico’s next partner?

22:21 Best 2/3 finals format

25:53 Pickleball officially becomes a nighttime sport

32:48 MLP hunting for a new commissioner

39:17 WPR has a singles problem

49:47 Anna Leigh Waters vs Kate Fahey

54:07 Mean comments

1:01:53 Women's doubles results

1:04:22 Nico’s combine experience

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200 episodes in, the PicklePod is celebrating with one of its most revealing conversations yet about where pickleball is headed next.

Zane and Nico break down everything that happened at the PPA event in Kuala Lumpur, including the results, the impact of international competition, ranking points, and whether the current system is rewarding the right players. They also discuss the MLP Asia draft, the biggest surprises from the player selections, and what the league could mean for the future of professional pickleball.

Then Thomas Shields, founder of The Dink and the original Pickle Pod, joins the conversation to discuss the business side of pickleball. The group dives into recent facility closures, declining sale prices, market saturation, franchise models, and why the facility boom may be entering a healthier, more sustainable phase—not necessarily ending.

The conversation also explores whether Padel is a real threat to pickleball, what the two sports can learn from each other, the importance of community-driven facilities, and the technology and platforms that could shape the next generation of racquet sports.

Plus, the guys read hilarious listener comments, share favorite moments from 200 episodes, open pickleball trading card packs, revisit some of the show’s most memorable guests, and play another round of “Guess My DUPR.”

👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

2:08 Results from Kuala Lumpur

12:28 MLP Asia Draft results

15:31 Mining gold in the comments section

25:52 Dub pickleball trading cards

36:28 PicklePod origin story

40:25 Pickleball facilities at a discount

49:38 Where would you invest $100K?

52:58 Padel vs pickleball

1:03:20 The best moments from the PicklePod

1:14:35 Guess my DUPR

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Pickleball’s biggest assumptions just got blown up. From 100-degree chaos in Cary to the sport’s new ranking system, this episode breaks down the rule changes, schedule quirks, and surprising matchups that could reshape how pro pickleball looks all season.

Nico and Zane react to a brutal North Carolina swing where heat, humidity, and weird timing all hit at once, then get into the real debate: is pickleball actually an indoor sport now? They compare how wind, cold, and extreme heat change the ball, why nighttime pickleball might be better for viewers, and why the sport keeps scheduling marquee matches at times that make no sense for television.

They also unpack the PPA’s new WPR structure and what it means for seeding, byes, and singles specialists. Zane explains how the ranking formula weights men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles, while Nico pushes on the bigger question: does this help elite all-around players, or quietly punish specialists like Chris Haworth and others on the bubble?

🩺 With Marek, taking care of your health doesn't have to be a huge commitment.

Head to https://MarekDiagnostics.com and use code THEDINK for 10% off

🎟️ Win a Limited-Edition ALW C45 'The Fives' Paddle at https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com

👕 Check out the new performance apparel line from Six Zero: https://bit.ly/3T9NaDM

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 Intro

5:07 Is pickleball better indoors or outdoors?

9:51 Why pro pickleball needs more nighttime matches

19:37 MLP’s 773,000 average viewers

24:36 How the new WPR rankings affect seeding

29:00 Why slams are switching to best-of-three finals

34:24 Why players switch sides at six points

39:28 The brutal schedule after MLP Finals

44:25 Christian’s awkward post-match comment

49:22 Is pickleball becoming three separate disciplines?

54:27 JW Johnson 2.0 takes down Ben and Anna Leigh Waters

59:00 Nico loses his JW Johnson excuse

1:04:04 The Anna Leigh Waters MVP debate

1:08:46 How long will Anna Leigh Waters’ singles streak last?

1:13:34 Where Sophia Sewing ranks in women’s pickleball

1:18:12 Can anyone challenge Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio?

1:22:32 Is Anna Bright close to Anna Leigh Waters?

1:27:22 Ranking the most dominant No. 1 seeds

1:31:24 Guess My DUPR

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Anna Leigh Waters joins the Picklepod to break down the Fives’ MLP championship win, the pressure of the DreamBreaker, and the team decisions that helped them get over the hump.

She shares how Federico Staksrud changed the team, why beating the St. Louis Shock made the victory even more special, and how she handles criticism, social media noise, and the pressure of being considered the face of pickleball.

Anna Leigh also talks about the players she loves competing against, the parts of her game she’s still working to improve, and the mystery behind her question-mark Franklin paddle.

Go to https://GIVEAWAY.THEDINKPICKLEBALL.COM and enter to win the Anna Leigh Waters C45 'The Fives" Paddle - Ends September 16, 2026

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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0:00 What was the difference this year?

2:29 The addition of Fed

4:39 Leading a team with roster decisions

6:16 Does it feel better beating the Shock?

8:26 Who is the most satisfying to beat?

10:04 Blocking out the opinions online

13:53 The greatest competitor Zane has ever seen

17:53 What are you working on now?

19:31 ALW’s only weakness

21:28 The New Anna Leigh Waters signature paddle?

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The most chaotic, electric MLP finals yet gave us the league’s defining rivalry, a controversial game-ending fault, and Federico Staksrud celebrating like he’d just survived a war. If you care about the future of pickleball - or just love a good sports meltdown - this is the episode to hear.

Nico and Zane break down the New Jersey Fives’ championship run in Central Park, where the crowd, the clowns, and the pressure all felt bigger than the court itself. They unpack why the venue was both iconic and flawed, how the rollout courts got worse as the weekend went on, and why those conditions may have changed key points in the semifinals and finals.

You’ll hear the full breakdown of the St. Louis Shock vs. New Jersey Fives title match, including the matchpoint controversy that ended the Brooklyn semifinal, the tactical swings in men’s and mixed, and the insane fact that every player went 1-1 across the two-day series. They also dig into the chaos around crowd energy, the ethics of heckling, and whether the Fives’ fan culture is a competitive advantage or a line-crossing spectacle.

Nico and Zane also get into the biggest question coming out of the weekend - does Anna Leigh Waters need an MLP title for her legacy, or has she already entered untouchable territory? They compare her dominance to Messi, debate her value in a team draft, and explain why her championship moment felt inevitable even before the trophy was handed out.

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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00:00 Intro and MLP Finals atmosphere

5:16 Nico’s favorite part of the Finals

9:08 Roll out courts cost match points

12:25 Has MLP outgrown Central Park?

17:29 Nico becomes a Dallas Flash Ambassador

19:56 Brooklyn vs The Fives

26:06 New Jersey’s clowns pushing the limits

37:29 Was this the best finals?

44:53 Zane shares news about his future

49:27 Did ALW need an MLP title on her resume?

57:56 Nico can’t Erne

1:02:31 Drafting the best rivalries in pickleball

1:09:17 All MLP Awards for 2026

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Brooklyn is the team nobody wants to draw, New Jersey may have made the wrong pick, and St. Louis looks like a machine built to steamroll the bracket. If you care about the MLP playoff picture, this is the episode that makes the whole weekend feel bigger.

Nico and Zane break down the biggest decisions heading into New York, including the shocking New Jersey vs. Brooklyn matchup choice, whether lineup changes are coming, and why the Shock, Fives, and Flash all have very different paths to the title. They also rank every possible finals matchup and explain which championship pairing would be electric, which would be a letdown, and why this postseason could finally deliver the rivalry pickleball has been waiting for.

Then Grayson Goldin joins the show for one of the most powerful comeback stories in pro pickleball. Six months after suffering two strokes and losing his ability to speak, Grayson returns to the court and wins gold in Shenzhen, describing the fear, the recovery, the rehab, and the mental battle behind getting his game and his voice back.

🏆 Enter to win the new Tesla Aurum paddle from Selkirk https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/

💊 Marek Health → https://www.marekdiagnostics.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off

🏓 Donate to the Solomon Boltes Memorial Pickleball Courts: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-solomon-boltes-memorial-pickleball-courts

📩 Subscribe to our free newsletter for everything that matters in pickleball: https://subscribe.thedinkpickleball.com

#Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #mlp #ppa

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Follow us on IG : https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/

-Join the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://discord.gg/ZCqXrxhgsv

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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00:00 Intro

3:49 The Super Bowl of Pickleball

6:41 New Jersey chooses Brooklyn over Dallas

15:27 Will NJ change lineups?

19:28 St Louis Shock vs Dallas Flash

25:30 Breaking down the matchups

33:37 Championship odds by team

44:09 Guess my DUPR

49:14 Grayson shares the story of his two strokes

1:03:52 Spending a week in the hospital

1:09:35 Living life to the fullest

1:15:52 The recovery process

1:21:58 Competing in Asia

1:30:18 Nobody can hang when I’m playing my best

1:42:48 The world's fastest serve

1:50:47 The best feelings in pickleball draft

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