Megan Fudge visits Dill Dinkers, challenges anti-pickleball views

Those tired pickleball remarks aren’t lost on Megan Fudge. Over three years have passed since she signed up for her first tour-level event, and still, she hears echoes.

She faced them firsthand when she committed to the sport and left tennis behind.

“There’s always been that stigma, ‘Oh, I’m going to go join the dark side,’” Fudge said. “But I feel like we’ve kind of overcome that now… nowadays, it’s the cool thing to do.”

Fudge was invited to Dill Dinkers pickleball club of Sarasota last weekend, taking a break from competition to teach clinics and practice with fellow pros. But there were no sneers or snickers that followed. No tennis purists were in attendance to rain on her parade.

There were only smiles and laughter among a crowd of people who unapologetically love pickleball for exactly what it is — the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

Once a four-time All-Big Ten honoree with Illinois women’s tennis, Fudge is now a premier competitor in the Association of Pickleball Players, ranking No. 1 in the world for women’s doubles. She broke the record for most all-time medals earlier this season by winning her 69th alongside Jill Braverman at the Vlasic Classic. To date, she has 77 to her name and counting.

Fudge and husband Ryler DeHeart — APP world No. 6 for men’s singles — swapped out their St. Petersburg home for an RV in 2023 to compete across the country. They’re also raising two children, Lily (10) and JR (8), on the road while passing down their love for pickleball.

Dill Dinkers didn’t offer Fudge and family medals or money. They jumped at the invite anyway. 

“I don’t just see myself as a pro pickleball player. I see myself as an ambassador for the sport,” Fudge said. “I don’t just do this here in the States. I’ve been all over Asia, just sharing the joy of the sport and helping grow the sport.”

Photo by Jack Nelson

Tennis traditionalists have long resented pickleball, and with its explosion both domestically and internationally, such sentiments are getting more airtime. Their attitudes range from mild dislike to seething hate, but regardless of where they stand, they do stand somewhere.

Naysayers claim the sport lacks skill or athleticism, and thus, lacks entertainment value. Others are frustrated with the emergence of pickleball courts in their neighborhoods, instead asserting that tennis courts should be built in those spaces. Then there’s the stereotype of the “old man’s game” because of its age-friendly design.

Try telling that to Fudge, or any members of her family. Watching one practice of hers would quickly dispel the negative preconceptions of any open-minded onlooker.

Cat-like reflexes were on display despite a world-class pace of play. Fudge demonstrated considerable poise and patience at the net, applying quick hands to return even the hardest of volleys.

Her instincts — which took years of training to hone — allowed her to be prepared for any shot in her practice partner’s arsenal. A bouncy stance and fancy footwork helped in that department as well.

What also stood out was the fearless approach Fudge had to each point. She expected velocity on every shot sent her way, and rather than backing away from body shots, took them in stride and shrugged them off with a smile.

“It’s such a simple sport — easy to learn, hard to master,” Fudge said. “My son is 8, and we’ve played with a 90-year-old… What other sport is out there where you can step on the court with someone you’ve never met, that you might have nothing in common (with) besides a pickleball in your hand, and you’re just having joy?”

Photo by Jack Nelson

The wisdom she’s accumulated over years on tour showed through coaching moments. After almost every rep or drill, she debriefed on the do’s and don'ts of strategy. There were discussions about timing your passing shot by being patient without ceding control of the point.

As tempting as it looked to rip the ball with each forehand, Fudge talked more so about positioning yourself for a quality shot, every shot. There are, after all, tennis sensibilities to this sister sport — extending the point however possible shifts the pressure back to the opponent.

Other than her split-second reaction time, skills shined in the way she was able to extend past her immediate swing radius to get any ball. Overheads were few and far between, but on one or two occasions, Fudge did reach back for an airborne ball to smash it back in play.

No average person could keep up with her. Pickleball is indeed more accessible than tennis, but that doesn’t eliminate athleticism from the equation.

“It lights people’s day up when they get to come out and exercise and laugh together and goof around together, but also feel like an athlete,” Fudge said. “I think a lot of people have missed that in their lives.”

It’s a weird war of words between the two racket sports. At the end of the day, they’re both fighting major domestic players like football and basketball to boost viewership and engagement.

Some tennis figures are bitter about the fact that pickleball emerged by downsizing their beloved game. Considering the rich history and tradition of tennis, they see a violation of its sanctity and want to protect it.

But they shouldn’t make the mistake of dismissing players entirely. Fudge is a competitor to her core.