Rachel Stuhlmann is undeniably a stunning woman, with her captivating presence and striking features making her a standout in the world of tennis and beyond.
She’s even dipped her toes into the ‘pickleball influencer‘ waters of late.
Now, she’s stepping up her game in that arena. This past weekend, Stuhlmann posted images of her putting the “final touches” of training for her first professional pickleball tournament.
She asked fans to “drop your best pickleball advice” as she prepared for her first tournament at the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) Virginia Beach Open.
Rachel Stuhlmanns Pickleball Debut Doesn’t Go As Planned
Rachel Stuhlmann’s debut at the PPA Virginia Beach Open makes her one of the first well-known influencers from tennis to cross over into professional pickleball actively.
Her preparation included not just physical training but also engaging with the pickleball community and promoting the sport through her influential social media presence.
She’s very serious about the endeavor.
Unfortunately, though, the best advice from her fans on Instagram didn’t translate to results on the court.
Rachel Stuhlmann was throttled in the round of 64 in her pro pickleball debut, losing to Lingwei Kong in straight sets, 11-1, 11-3.
Stuhlmann was realistic leading up to her debut, emphasizing her respect for the athleticism of top pickleball players and her intent to showcase the physicality of the sport.
If you haven’t played pickleball, believe me: it’s not as easy as it looks.
Here’s what it looks like for a very good tennis player practicing for pro pickleball:
Immediate top-tier success wasn’t expected. Her participation was more about bridging her love for racket sports and promoting pickleball.
RELATED: 10 Times Tennis Influencer Rachel Stuhlmann Broke Your Serve With Her Instagram Photos
Other Tennis Pros Engaging In The Pickleball Trend
Rachel Stuhlmann’s move into pickleball isn’t just a personal career shift but also represents the evolving landscape of the sport.
Several big names have jumped into taking up the sport. An event in Hollywood, Florida saw a mixed doubles match featuring players with a combined 42 Grand Slam singles trophies.
In that event, Stefanie Graf and Andre Agassi dropped John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova to take home a $1 million prize.
Rachel Stuhlmann told The Kitchen that watching players like Agassi find joy in playing pickleball makes it thrilling.
“He just kept saying, ‘this is so fun!’ and seeing how happy he is makes me happy, too,” she said of Agassi, a former rebel on the professional tennis tour and a Hall of Famer.
“I love seeing my friends from the tennis tours thrive in another sport,” Stuhlmann says.
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