Pickleball's Challenge To Established Sports: 'Its Economical, People Love It', Says Australian Sensation Mitchell Hargreaves

Pickleball's meteoric rise has caused many to wonder if it can genuinely compete with long-standing sports like tennis. Australian pickleball star Mitchell Hargreaves believes the answer lies in one simple action and one simple fact: giving the sport a try and the economic factors behind it. According to Hargreaves, who is the No.1 men's player in Australia, the nature of pickleball is such that when people try it, they're hooked, and this enthusiasm, coupled with the sport's economical requirements, makes it an attractive option for sports facility owners.To illustrate his point, Hargreaves shared a personal anecdote about how he convinced his former tennis coach to introduce pickleball to his facility. "I think the best way for that is to let people try it, and as soon as they try it, they love it. It's very economical as well. I got my ex-tennis coach to try it and made him build some courts in the tennis facility. Instead of having two people at the tennis courts, we now have 16 people across four pickleball courts playing. So for him, it makes a lot of sense, and I am sure for every other person who owns a facility, it's a great idea," Hargreaves told Times Now on the sidelines of the grand launch of Pickleball World Rankings (PWR) in Dubai on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.The grand launch of Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the PWR World Series, and the PWR World Tour is backed by Pickleball League Asia Private Limited in partnership with The Times Group at a time when the sport is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity worldwide.But is there a need to simplify the rules? For example, if you are serving, then you can only earn a point, but the receiver can only deny the point. So, does it get complicated at some point for someone new to the sport?"I have heard that before. So every facility and venue needs great coaches to make sure people are implementing the rules and learning them. I have seen that problem where people get on but don't really know how to go about it effectively. But I believe that rules are what make pickleball unique. So definitely keeping them and getting people to teach them effectively is the way forward," Hargreaves elucidated.Hargreaves Sees Bright Future for Pickleball in Southeast AsiaHargreaves has expressed his enthusiasm for the sport's burgeoning popularity in Southeast Asia. "I have been playing pickleball for about two years now, and I am very excited about the future of the game in Southeast Asia. I am actually investing a lot of time in going over there and playing events. Seeing a lot of new people pick up the sport is great. I have seen a lot of table tennis players play the sport, and it seems very exciting," he said before adding, "I am super excited about the PWR World Series. As I said, I have been to the US, and it's tough for everyone to get involved in pickleball if they are not from the US. So, I am really excited about a world tour that has events everywhere."Pickleball: A New Frontier for AthletesHargreaves is equally optimistic about the sport's future as a viable career path. He believes pickleball is entering a new era where athletes are making a full-time commitment to the sport. "I am also really excited about pickleball as a career. People are now going full-time and taking it as a career, and what's exciting about that is all the athletes who come in from other sports can come into pickleball, use their background, and play at a competitive level," he explained. Hargreaves has witnessed the sport's remarkable growth and transformation since he began playing in 2019. The introduction of team events, advancements in paddle technology, and the establishment of the World Tour have significantly elevated the game.