Photograph courtesy Selkirk
Drive past any tennis court this summer and you’ll likely hear the rhythmic back-and-forth of a brightly colored ball as it volleys rapid-fire, paddles popping, sneakers squeaking, and exclamations of “mine” and “out” and “ball on.”
It’s not tennis. It’s not ping-pong. It’s pickleball, an athletic fusion of those two games that’s taken the sports world by storm. Everyone from the Kardashians to the Bachelor are playing it, and unlike some fads, pickleball is here to stay.
A fun and accessible way to get the heart pumping, pickleball isn’t just for casual couples or fit retirees—it’s a serious sport that attracts serious athletes, such as Rachel Rohrabacher. A Tampa native who now calls Cincinnati home, Rohrabacher went pro in 2023, joining Selkirk Sport’s Elite Pro roster of pickleball players and establishing herself as a dominant force in Major League Pickleball
Like many professional pickleball players, you started with tennis. Can you tell us a little about that?
I started playing tennis when I was 6 years old and went on to receive a full scholarship at the University of South Carolina. While I was at South Carolina, we got up to a ranking of No. 3 in the nation and won the SEC Championships in 2019. Personally, I was ranked No. 9 in the nation in doubles and set multiple records for most matches won in a season. I stopped playing tennis when I graduated, and although I was introduced to pickleball [from my former junior tennis coach] soon after, I did not commit to practicing or playing tournaments until 2023.
What compelled you to make the leap from tennis to pickleball? Were you nervous about venturing into such a new sport?
Pickleball allows me to utilize the athletic abilities I have been honing my entire life and make a career of it. It’s surreal to be a part of this sport because it is still in its infancy and will likely be 10 times bigger in five years than it is today. I hope to continue making a footprint and one day become a legacy of the sport.
And what do you think that legacy will be? Why is pickleball here to stay?
Pickleball is special because it is everything I love about tennis put into one little sport. I couldn’t continue playing tennis after I graduated from college because of injuries and the monetary toll it takes to go pro in tennis. Pickleball allows me to continue competing, which is something I do best. I love the quickness of pickleball, especially the hand battles at the net.
What advice would you give to someone interested in giving pickleball a go?
I would suggest playing rec games as much as possible [Editor’s note: Rachel loves playing at Aces Pickleball in Norwood.] It’s important to learn the rules and scoring so that they become a part of your subconscious.
Rohrabacher’s other piece of advice? Try doubles! The athlete prefers playing with a partner, and her stats certainly back this up: She’s currently No. 8 for women’s doubles and No. 13 for mixed doubles on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour. Looking ahead, Rohrabacher hopes to break into the top five players by the end of 2024. Learn more about Rachel Rohrabacher on her bio page at Selkirk Sport.
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