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The Story of Genie Bouchard
506 Plays1 year ago
From the Olympics to Wimbledon finals and now to Pickleball, what is Genie Bouchard like off the court? What can we learn from her experience as a professional athlete and tennis player, how she handles social media, and the transition to pickleball?
• Genie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/geniebouchard
• Genie's paddle: https://versixpickleball.com/collections/versix-vector-xl
- use code: BUILDINGPB
CHAPTERS 00:00 intro 00:39 recapping ppa las vegas matches 02:55 life off the court 03:43 her family 06:12 attitude on the court 07:33 coach, help with her pb career 08:45 transitioning from tennis 09:46 what practice looks like 10:14 pickleball in the olympics 10:50 genie signature paddle 14:55 genie's sponsorship deals 15:28 why versix 16:17 aspirations for pickleball 17:26 view on tennis and pickleball 18:54 opinion on pickleball rules 20:09 i can't believe genie did this 21:23 navigating professional career as a female 23:53 music, tv shows 25:41 travel 26:21 no 1 in worlds 50 most marketable athletes list
#pickleball #tennis #podcast
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Transcript
Introduction and Transition to Pickleball
00:00:00
Speaker
You google her name and you see the tennis results, the Wikipedia page, the photos from her professional tennis career, and whatever else TMZ can find on her. But what is a star like behind all the photos, the accolades, and the paparazzi? Jeannie shares her insights on her transition from tennis to pickleball, her views on some of the rules, and we dig into some of her controversial social media posts. And she also makes an announcement for her new signature paddle. This is the story of Jeannie Bouchard.
00:00:31
Speaker
How was that match? Crazy. It looked sweet. I'm still adrenaline still up from the match. so How'd you get paired up with Yates? He asked me to play. So basically at first at the beginning of the year, no one wanted to play with me because I was not good. And now I'm slowly starting to get more partner requests. So that's making me feel better about myself and, you know, giving me confidence that I've maybe improved a little bit.
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, no, it was cool. And I watched the last event where you played with Blaine. Yeah. And then you had like a really good comeback match against the Janssen and Jensen. Yes. um That was super sweet. That match was dope. Yeah. Yeah. You played crazy. Yeah. I want to say I played better
Pickleball Strategies and Lifestyle
00:01:10
Speaker
than Blaine in that match. I told him that. Yeah, you did. I'll clip that for him.
00:01:16
Speaker
um No, I mean, you just made like a bunch of ton, like a bunch of really, really good decisions. Like the execution will like come, but I think like the biggest part is just those decisions. Right. Right. And yeah, it's just about for me, like having the reps to execute them on a daily basis and in the pressure moments as well. Yeah. What are you going to do about the backhand overhead?
00:01:35
Speaker
Yeah, I know. I've missed two of those today. I think my partner should run for that. So I don't feel like I need to work on that at all because the guy, he's a dude, he should go get it. Yeah. You know, that's me they're stronger, they're faster. He's going to get there faster than me. Like that's all. And then he'll be on like the forehand side, you know, and I'm on the backhand side and it's more awkward. So I think every single lob, considering how small a pickleball court is compared to a tennis court, I think every single lob, the guy should go get it.
00:02:01
Speaker
Gates definitely could have gotten, he's quick. Yeah, he's super quick. yeah Yeah. So I'm going to actually tell him that for tomorrow. Yeah, definitely. ah Real quick, before we go any further into this episode, I do need to make a quick shout out to my sponsors because without them, and of course you guys, none of this would be possible. You all are already familiar with Viori. Viori is my favorite brand. I'm wearing Viori shorts right now. I'm wearing the core shorts.
00:02:23
Speaker
But, love Viori, love the product. I meet tons of people in the community that are wearing Viori shorts and products as well. And if you happen to be one of those people that love the product because it's super comfortable or maybe you like the color, maybe you like the fabric or maybe you like the mission of the brand, then go to Viori.com slash building pickleball and you'll receive 20% off your first purchase. There's free shipping on any orders of $75 or more and they do free returns. I always like see you traveling, like you go skiing, you ride horses, you go golfing, you go ski shooting. What do you like to do like in your off time when you're not playing?
Family and Personal Background
00:03:02
Speaker
That's a good question. I feel like I've been so busy recently. I don't even have that much off time. Some of those activities are like part, partly sometimes like at tournaments or events that I'm at. um But when I do have some time off, I mean, the most important for me is family. So this year the skiing was an Aspen for me and my twin sister's 30th birthday party. So we had like our whole family get out there and and that was really sweet um because I travel so much. I don't get to see them as much as I would like. And so making an effort to kind of make trips like that makes up for it.
00:03:29
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Cause I've seen like your mom helps you tape up your ankles. Like your dad has fed you balls when you're there's a video of you shorter than the net. And then like you text with your grandma and you've done like ab crunches during Christmas. Like you've just talked about family. Like what does the relationship mean to you? And like, and how does it impact your career?
00:03:46
Speaker
Yeah, so I have three siblings, so we're four kids, we're a family of six, and so we've always been super close, and we find it very important to get together for Christmas and special events, and I just think, um you know, especially sibling relationships are so important because they're the ones you have your whole life, right? Like, your parents will, you know, not live as long as you, and then you are only going to have kids, you know, a court ah third into your life, so sibling relationships are actually people that you will literally know the longest, and so I really try to um stay close with all my siblings, and like I said, it's hard with my travel, but You know, we like to do crazy stuff at Christmas. We make my grandma take tequila shots. We we eat like so much that we feel sick and then we're like, okay, we got to work out. So we start doing abs and we're just kind of a crazy bunch, but it's so fun when we get together. Yeah. Your sister doesn't have any resentment towards you that you're the better tennis player.
00:04:32
Speaker
You know, she had her chance, okay? So we both started at age five. Okay. yeah She gave up one like six or something? Yeah, she ret retired at age six. Retired at age six. That's what I say all the time to people. And you know, she just didn't love it. She didn't like it. And later on in life, she looked at my mom and she'd be like, why didn't you like force me to keep playing? You know, when she saw like the success I had or the perks in life I started getting and my mom was like, I was not going to force a six year old who didn't want to play tennis to play tennis.
00:04:57
Speaker
And I'm like, also, there was a lot of hard work. like There's no guarantee you would have made it. And like you've seen how hard it was for me to you know miss school, miss family events, miss birthday parties to make it. And ah you know I don't know if she would have been able to do that. And she has great qualities and other things, but we're just so different. And in this like discipline, like athletic hard work stuff, I'm definitely the one who who got that gene because I just was obsessed from a young age. Yeah. There's no telling if she would have enjoyed the journey either.
Pickleball vs Tennis Approach
00:05:25
Speaker
Right. or Or been able to yeah to to put in the discipline day in, day out. She was more social. She um you know finds the value and and enjoys her time more with like friends and cultivating that stuff. And she's an influencer now. So that's like more her world. And you know that's stuff that I don't spend my day doing. And so we're just so different. um So yeah, I think her her time was ultimately better spent doing what she did because she loves it more. Yeah. It's cool. Like watching your interviews. Well, except for the one that was on part of my take, but like, I mean, was like that was a good interview, but you're very loose in that. But then like the other interviews you talk about like your discipline, your passion and like your drive. But then when I just saw you on the pickleball court, just look like you're having tons of fun. You're like smiling. You're just like, you weren't hard on yourself. And that could be also because you had a tennis career and you had plenty of time to be hard on yourself. And I think you just kind of maybe learned like, okay, the better outcome might be if I actually like am more optimistic and lighter. Yeah, well, I think I'll never not be hard on myself. So, you know, when I'm out there on the court, I want to win. I just hate losing so much. ah But I really had a fun partner. Yates is so fun to play with and he like cracks jokes and like makes it lighthearted and I can be a very serious person. So I actually think it's helpful to have a partner that kind of has this opposite effect on me and I can remember to just relax and be a little lighter.
00:06:40
Speaker
um Yeah, we were joking around but like we wanted to win so badly and we had a crazy comeback and and that was like the longest pickleball match I've ever played. It was like an hour and a half. And and Yates, poor Yates was like running back and forth and all over the place like getting, except for those couple lobs, he was getting most of them except for a couple. And so I was like, the this is the most physical pickleball match we both ever played. know um So that was just a crazy fun one that we just, I'm still like adre high on adrenaline right now.
00:07:06
Speaker
I bet. I mean I was taking photos and videos you during the singles match and not the single as match I think without center court. Yeah, and there's like no one there. Yeah, and there's not like you could hear a pin drop that game You just looked very more like dialed everything just a little more calm. like I'm just by myself so yeah So serious, you know with a partner I at least I can like relax a little bit um but yeah, I was also first match on so now I think there's a couple more people because we're more later in the afternoon and you know ah people like to walk by kind of the smaller courts to see multiple matches and so that's it's kind of a fun vibe being out there yeah yeah but i noticed like you don't do you have a coach for pickleball well so that's something i i don't have like a coach um i have people that kind of like have helped me out a couple people who work for the pba tour have you know come over to see me and and help me with technique i've worked with day Fleming who's the commentator uh
00:07:56
Speaker
guy ah Dylan, who works for the PBA, has also come out to help me. And then some just like kind of the older players like Ryan Cherry, he's kind of my go-to like buddy on tour where we practice together and he'll sometimes come over to Miami and and train me. But it's something I wasn't really used to because I kind of asked. I was like, okay, are there pickleball academies?
Coaching and Training in Pickleball
00:08:13
Speaker
Are there pickleball coaches? And it's a little bit less kind of solidified than tennis because it's such a new sport, at least at the elite level.
00:08:19
Speaker
So I'm used to traveling with a coach and even like a trainer and other people and now it's like oh yeah like people do that a lot less in pickleball and I was surprised so sometimes I have once in a while have my mom come and besides that ah yeah it's just me and I just practice with my doubles partner or my mixed book doubles partner and or my friend Ryan.
00:08:37
Speaker
yeah Yeah, it's interesting seeing the benches like empty. like There's very few that they'll have like random things like maybe a strength and conditioning coach or maybe like their mental coach. right What is one thing that your training partners who have been helping you acclimate to Pickleball have been telling you or teaching you, showing you?
00:08:55
Speaker
So some stuff about the strategy, like you said, I think in tennis, I had really good like instinctive kind of um tactical awareness. Like I would see the court while I would see where there's like openings go to those openings. So pickleball is a little different for me because the ball moves differently, right? So it's like, even if you see the open court in singles, you can't just like blast a winner as much as you could do in tennis. And so it's about learning um how to play more with finesse, with touch and with finding those those gaps And so today with um Yates, you know, sometimes we we're like, okay, we got to go behind the guy. So because he's always trying to cover the middle. And so like, sometimes it's kind of scary to like go to the guy, but then I try to hit it at the guy or even dink to him and he's a little caught off guard. And that gives us, gives us a better ball for the next shot. So um just like kind of small things like that, which I've not used. I've not been used to in tennis. um Just being aware of those things. Yeah. What does practice look like for you?
00:09:49
Speaker
So practice is, I mean, I wanna try practice more like doubles and mixed doubles because that's where I feel like I have weaknesses I wanna improve. Singles is obviously the closest to tennis, so it's where I feel most comfortable. um So for me, it's all about like practicing at the kitchen line, dinks all day long, um practicing playing points where if I do a bad dink or ah one that sits a little bit high, we get killed, right? And so I need to learn that and that just teaches me not to do that.
Pickleball's Growth and Equipment Design
00:10:16
Speaker
what are your thoughts on pickleball in the olympics because you've played in the olympics representing canada was it 2016 rio 2016 yeah uh 100 we need them in the olympics la 2028 i will be the number one supporter for that and try help pickleball get that. I think, you know, there are so many crazy sports in the Olympics. The fact that pickleball is like the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and that it's not in the Olympics, I think it deserves to be compared to so many of the other sports that are already in there. um So we just got to keep pushing and I'm sure we'll get there. Yeah. Yeah. One thing I definitely want to ask you about is your paddle. Yes. The guys over. Third person in the sitting right here. Get them like.
00:10:58
Speaker
first six like sent me a paddle and they're like hey just give it a shot and then i was like cool yeah i'll i'll give it a shot and i was using a couple of different paddles and they're probably in like the higher price range and as far as like they're pretty like ubiquitous you'd see them on a lot of courts and then i started playing with that i was like actually like really like this i usually play with a 16 this is a 15 millimeter um everything felt great i thought the shape was like gonna be odd and then i played with it i was like This is it. This is awesome. And then I talked to them on the phone and then they were like, this is actually $130 paddle. And I was like, that's also insane. yeah So like you tell me about not just the design, but also like the thought behind the paddle, the thought of behind the like mission behind the paddle as well. Yeah. um Yeah, so i'm I'm so happy to be partnered with Versics, of course. So we came out with my signature paddle, which has a couple of details that I prefer for me as a tennis player coming to Pickleball. So I can explain those quickly. Number one, the grip is longer. I use a two handed backhand.
00:11:54
Speaker
in tennis and it's something I have kept in pickleball because I've just done that for 25 years I'm like there's no way I'm changing this now so we adapted that so I could have more space to put both my hands on the grip um and then another thing is yeah the the racket shape or the head shape rather is a little more like you know kind of more like a tennis racket it's not like looking like a pickleball paddle but it's more like a tennis racket kind of we kind of tried to make a tennis racket for the pickleball court which is what will help me the most um and then there's like really good grit which they've improved and that helps me like get the spin I need because I'm used to playing with something that has strings obviously and so to add that on the paddle has been super helpful because I can still kind of play tennis wise but like adjust for the pickle court
00:12:38
Speaker
And then, of course, you know I think it's so important that like it's in a low price range. I think it should be affordable for everyone to be able to go and play. I think some of the prices of paddles are kind of ridiculous, and I'm so proud to be partnered with someone who makes it like available for everyone, and I think um then everyone can play.
00:12:53
Speaker
yeah yeah no that's awesome I think like affordability is huge especially in a sport that's so accessible to a degree it's not very exclusive exactly we need we need the paddles to be as accessible yeah and then the other thing is it also comes in blue if you're not a pink person I want the pink Yeah. See, I love pink and I was like, make me a pink paddle, please. yeah So they came out with this version and they came out with like a baby blue one, ah which Blaine, another PPA player, plays with. So he plays with my signature paddle. So when we play together, it's so cute because I have the pink one. He has the blue one. ah So whatever color you like, um we have options.
00:13:27
Speaker
Blaine is like a drastically different partner from Yates, I feel like. yes He's just constantly yelling at himself like, come on, come on. He's like saying in different languages, he's saying like, dale and stuff. And I'm like, what? He throws out like the Spanish, like vamos and vamos, and I'm like, what are you doing?
00:13:42
Speaker
um And he also plays big too. He's like loud on the court and his game is loud. He has the huge um serve, the huge shots, the huge reach by the way. yeah This guy's wingspan is crazy. So um different and but Yates is like so athletic like running getting all the balls doing amazing dinks and and really good strategy wise.
00:13:59
Speaker
No, that was awesome to watch. um Question about the paddle is like, I feel like ah people always ask like, who is this paddle for? They might throw in words like maybe control or power or maybe like someone with like touch or something like that. Like, who do you think that this paddle is for? Well, you know, so the newest version that they've just sent me, and they've been kind of constantly improving it, sometimes with my feedback, sometimes with not. So I feel like we've increased the power of this. I asked for a little more weight in the handle, and with um the face as well, I think it's really good power wise. Like I was serving today, and even my Ermik's double's opponent was like, you got some heat on your serve, you know, and I was like, okay, thank you, I'll take that.
00:14:39
Speaker
um But I also feel like I did dinks today as well and I was able to have that control that I need so um I mean I feel good I'm not a totally all-around player because my net game needs some work But like for a player like me who likes to hit the ball, but also wants to feel secure on the dinks It was helping me a lot today.
Advocacy and Balancing Sports
00:14:53
Speaker
Yeah, I'm always curious about like sponsorships and those decisions like you've obviously had different sponsorships over the course of your tennis career you're with like Coca-Cola and then now more I guess like you've been with night new balance for how long and Yeah, I just re-signed with them this year. I was with them for three years and I re-signed for another three years. So this is my fourth year, I guess. yeah Gotcha. There's probably a ton of companies in the pickleball space that were like reaching out to you. How did you land and make that decision to work with Versics?
00:15:21
Speaker
Well, you know, so my initial just kind of opening into the whole professional tour here was through the PPA. And so they, um you know, presented me a bunch of different paddles that I could start trying. And um I just immediately liked how close this was to a tennis racket for me. And um knowing that it was also like the pickleball central brand, their house brand, um and the super affordable one, and something that I could also have input on ah kind of adjustments, it just kind of made it a no brainer that I could have my own signature paddle with them.
00:15:51
Speaker
that's awesome yeah yeah um I keep looking at it like it's a little baby, my little baby. It's very quiet today. I know. It was very loud earlier. She's shy. Yeah. On the topic of pickleball, like I've seen like on your Instagram, you've done work with a foundation and you've also done work with like Meals on Wheels, but it in your tennis career, you had 2014 Wimbledon finalists, the Rio 2016 Olympics. Like what impact do you want to have on pickleball? And like, what are your aspirations for pickleball?
00:16:23
Speaker
That's a great question. um Well, I'm first of all just so excited to be part of something that's so like growing and trending and like people I mean everyone I know is just obsessed with pickleball and so I'm just proud to be a part of such a fast-growing kind of corporation and beyond that I it's similar to I guess my goals with tennis where it's like if I can inspire anyone to get out on the court and play to me I've like done my job right and And it's like, even if it's not necessarily pick a pickleball, even if it's tennis or even if it's another sport, just getting outside, being active, playing a sport to me is a huge success. And that's what I always said I wanted to do with tennis. And now that I have my you know feet in both areas, i'm kind of I feel like a neutral arbitrator because I know some people in tennis hate on the pickle and vice versa. And I'm like, hey, we can both
00:17:09
Speaker
coexist. We can actually be beneficial for each other. We can all be friendly. And I'm like, in the tennis world, if someone goes from tennis to pickleball, that's great. Someone can start out with pickleball and then go to tennis. So it's like we can be mutually beneficial. I don't know why we have to like, kind of be competitive with each other. I think there's enough space out there for tennis and pickleball to thrive.
00:17:27
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's a good point that, like, it's cool that you can be an advocate for both because you're, like, still actively. Like, when was the last time you played in a tennis event? Yeah, I played um a few weeks ago yeah at the big event we have in Toronto, the National Bank Open. So, um yeah, I'm switching back and forth all year long. And so it's pretty cool to be, like, a professional in two sports. And so I'm very much like, hey, they're both great and they can both help each other. And if I can bring tennis fans over to pick a ball, if I can help pick a ball grow, that's one of my goals as well. If I can inspire kids to play.
00:17:55
Speaker
That's one of my goals and let's just see where we can take it. Have you sometimes been getting confused when you're playing tennis? You're like running up to the net and you're like, Oh my God, the kitchen. It's interesting. It's, it's, I really have to like rewire my brain every time I like switch sports. It's tough. So like when I go from pickle to tennis in tennis, I'll start hitting the ball close to me because pickle ball, you hit it closer. But then at the net, I'll feel kind of more comfortable because I just spent, you know, weeks doing dinks. And then when I go back to tennis or sorry, when I go back to pickle ball, And I'm like, Ooh, the court's so small and everything's like so much easier. But then I'm like, Oh my God, then I have to do these dinks that I haven't done in 10. So it's like, they both, there's some things that mess me up and there's some things that help each other. Um, but it's just, it is different. People thought like, Oh, I'd be amazing. I pick a ball right away. And I'm like, guys, it's a completely different skill set. It would be an insult to the other professionals. If I thought I could come in and win playing pickleball for one month when they've been playing for five years or 10 years. So, uh, I need time to keep getting better, but you know, the professionals here are so good.
00:18:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's awesome. In another conversation, you've talked about like tennis removing challenges, which removes some things like anticipation, curiosity, and like controversy behind a like a line call. What rules within pickleball would you want to see maybe altered or changed?
00:19:08
Speaker
Well, number one for the umpires to call the balls, having the players call the ball, I think to me is tough because it just makes it more personal. You know, and in tennis, we we haven't had that since the juniors. Right. So I'm like, if we want to be a grow and be more as a profession, seen more as a professional sport and and become bigger and better, um I think it's important to just have basic professional standards in place. And I think um having the line calls being called, number one, ball boys would be nice. um You know, I'm kind of tired of picking up my own balls here.
00:19:38
Speaker
It's been a while since I did that in tennis as well. um So I think that's good. I think i would I love the video review. I would love it if it was just able to like happen faster, you know, because sometimes it takes the length of like a whole time out or like even longer and you're kind of like, it kind of changes the course of the the match possibly. um But yeah, you know, just like, not not that tennis is the be all end all, there's things with tennis that should totally be improved, but it is like the premier racquet sport. And so if there's little things that pickleball can take from that, I think it would just be beneficial.
00:20:07
Speaker
Yeah, I have a bone to pick with you. What is up with you dipping pizza
Social Media and Personal Interests
00:20:12
Speaker
in soy sauce? i know crazyzier Are you one of my haters about that? I haven't actually tried it yet, so I can't hate on it. Is it a specific piece? Is it like cheese or is it pepperoni and you dip it in the soy sauce? You know, I don't even know how I had that idea, but I think I was just like, so I'm more of a salty but like person. i don't have i don't Like if you give me a bag of chips or a chocolate bar, I'll have the bag of chips all day long. So I was having pizza and I was like, I wish I could make this saltier. And for some reason, I think I had just had like sushi right there. And I was like, let me just try this. And you know, I posted it and I thought it wasn't a big deal at all. And people lost their minds. And I was like,
00:20:47
Speaker
You guys are taking this way too personally. Like I literally am like hung over just trying to dip my pizza and soy sauce, like chill out. And then, um, what's that famous brand of soy sauce? Kiko man. So then like the CEO of Kiko man tweets me back a video where he dips his pizza and his soy sauce. And then at the very end of the video, he does a ah slight nod and I'm like, that means approval. So I'm sorry if he approves it, then you all should. So I don't want to hear any more hate. You're just like merging all these different cultures and sports together. We're all becoming friends. Oh, speaking of like social media, you've had ah a few like controversial things and you were on another podcast or yeah, you were on another podcast where you're like catching flack for having this photo that online that some people believe were like too sexual. But yeah, like what advice would you tell like younger women who like maybe in your position who
00:21:39
Speaker
you've talked about it before where you're like, well, if we have this asset, why don't we use it? And it's like, there are different, you mean like male and females are completely different. And there are different advantages to being like a male or a female. So like, why not use those like um traits or totally.
00:21:56
Speaker
Well, yeah, so I don't know which specific controversial post you're talking about because there's been so many. I can't keep track. Such a controversial person. um Yeah, you know, sometimes people just get um really intense about the whole like female thing. And, you know, years ago, and I actually talked about this on a podcast recently where it was like the whole twirlgate thing where there was a reporter who asked me to like twirl for my outfit and people got really like offended on my behalf. And I was like,
00:22:20
Speaker
I thought my outfit was so cute. I was like happy to show it off, you know, and so it's just it's kind of like the mentality of like, why not be everything you can be? And um I think, you know, at the end of the day, sex sells. It does. That's just a fact of life. And if, you know, girls look cute in their outfits and, you know, want to you know explore that path and want to be in I don't know, fashion magazines or swimsuit magazines. um I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I think it can help your brand, help your exposure and help the sport too. It would bring eyeballs and fans of people who would maybe not normally watch tennis who maybe read Vogue magazine or maybe read SI and then they're suddenly tuning into a tennis match because they saw you in there. And I think it's just helpful for the individual and for the sport at whole. And I think there's nothing wrong with using what you've got to um achieve your goals.
00:23:08
Speaker
Sunday yard work. Yeah. the You know, the best was when Sam query like reloed it was just insane I had no idea he was doing that by the way. And I didn't even know when he posted it. Literally my agent texted me and was like, check your Instagram. And this was two hours after. Like I was busy. I hadn't even checked Instagram and I literally started screaming at my phone because I couldn't believe what he did. And so now I'm really tempted to do something like crazy and see if he's going to take the bait and recreate it again. Like I want to see how far he's going to go.
00:23:37
Speaker
I think he's going to match. like yeah I think he will because he's also trying to just use me for cloud followers. Let's just be honest. And, you know, it made a funny story. So I'm okay with it. And I'm friends with Sam. And I'm like, look, if I help you get like a thousand followers, like it's fine. Yeah. Just by mow me later. Exactly. If I looked at your Spotify, what song would I find at the top?
00:23:56
Speaker
Okay. You're going to find a lot of Morgan Wallen at the top. Okay. I went to stage coach in April and I am really have gotten into country recently. I also feel like country has really become popular and modern country and like rap country and all these like versions of it are coming out. And so, um, yeah, I'm shamelessly a country gal. There's in Canada, there's um a big event in the summer. It's called Calgary Stampede. And so I want to do that next year. Nice. Yeah.
00:24:21
Speaker
Morgan Wallace. He the one who sings chasing you. Yeah, that's a good song. That is za signs also really cool. Yeah um What are you watching at the moment? Besides pickleball. I wish I had time to watch anything. I know that's such a terrible answer Oh my god. I I recently watched this is so random but like um Remember the whole the the documentary at the Ashley Madison documentary I think so Ashley Madison was the app Yeah, or like that like the web website that like helps people cheat or whatever. So there's like a three episode docu-series and I just watched the first one. And I didn't even have time to watch the rest, but I just watched the first one. And that's the last time I watched something. I'm really like, I've been so busy recently, I haven't been able to watch TV shows, but I'm going to take two weeks off in September and I'm going to get into like a nice Netflix groove. So if you have any racks, please let me know.
00:25:10
Speaker
Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime. Okay. Yeah. It's ah like they turned it into a show. It's got like a Donald Glover. Okay. Yeah. That's a good show. um Oh, the bear. Yeah. Everyone has been telling me to watch that. I have not, but I've gotten that before. Yeah. You're going to need like two weeks because you're going to like get go through it and then you're going to need like a mental recovery period.
00:25:32
Speaker
after the bear. Yeah, it's it's intense after season two. Okay. Yeah, you're gonna need. Um, so you've traveled to like Panama, Aspen, Rome, Dubai, the clips of more is there a place you haven't been yet that you would like to go to?
00:25:47
Speaker
That's also a great question. I've been many, many places. I would love to go to um South Africa. i've I've only been to, where have I been? I went to Morocco once and that's pretty much all I've done in Africa. We don't have many tournaments there. Most of my travels obviously are for tennis. Very rarely do I travel for vacation. I don't often get that luxury, um but I would love to do a safari in South Africa. I know that is probably pretty basic, but it's on my list.
00:26:14
Speaker
No, 100% go. Yeah. Yeah. Especially if you can go to like Tanzania and you can go to the Serengeti. It's great.
Marketability and Conclusion
00:26:20
Speaker
So as someone who's been ranked the number one by SportsPro in their world's 50 most marketable athletes in 2015 list, what would you say like contributed to that? And what advice would you give to like stand out?
00:26:33
Speaker
So, I mean, obviously you need success at what you do, first and foremost. At the end of the day, tennis has been my job and my number one job and um has led me to other opportunities, but it's because I performed well in tennis that I even got those other opportunities. Secondly, I mean, for me, in my story, I would say I kind of um started having success with the rise of social media and I was using it in a very natural and authentic way. So, growing up, for us, I don't know, you'd look younger than me, but we had Facebook.
00:27:03
Speaker
And so me and my friends and my sisters and my brother, we would all post on Facebook about whatever silly stuff we were doing. And then I started, you know, having success with tennis, started becoming in the public eye. I got Twitter, I got Instagram, and I kind of kept posting on those platforms the way me and my friends and siblings would do on Facebook. And I would like take a selfie here and like do something silly over there. And instead of just being so boring of like, okay, this is a picture from practice and this is like,
00:27:30
Speaker
ah you know, a sponsor post or whatever, I was just really like myself. And I think people appreciated that because it was really more authentic than people expected. And, you know, I went to the Vatican in Rome and I took a selfie where I like got it like I got the Pope in the background and like people lost their minds. And I was like, this is if I was just here with my family vacation, I would be doing the exact same thing. Like this is who I am. This is what I would be doing. And I think people saw that and appreciated it. And I think that helped my social media grow, which helps um you know, marketing. It's it's all all about that. You know, my agent says the number one thing brands ask for when they talk to him and probably every agent in the world is what other social media numbers. And so that's really important. Shout out to the Pope. he Yeah, he got me. He helped me a lot. I owe him. I should Venmo him. Is there anything that I haven't asked you that you want to talk about? um No, these are super fun questions. Actually, this has been like way more fun than a standard boring interview.
00:28:27
Speaker
that's That's extremely relieving. I could literally go home now. I'm good. I'm good. Yeah, no. No, thank you like so much for your time. Of course. Made this super easy. Watching you play was like super, super cool. Thank you. So yeah, thank you very much for your time. Of course. Thank you for for having me.