SOURCE: Observer Media Group
Megan Fudge visits Dill Dinkers, challenges anti-pickleball views.
The APP Tour’s all-time medals leader put true athleticism on display at the Sarasota-based club.
Photo by Jack Nelson- The Observer
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.