- 0:40, Alix Troung Intro The episode kicks off with the hosts welcoming Troung to the show and engaging in some friendly banter about her recent move to train full-time in Salt Lake City, Utah. They touch on who she's been practicing with so far and the contacts she's made within the local pickleball community.
- 2:40, The PPA/MLP Merger Discussion moves to the long-rumored merger between the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) - two competing pro tours. Truong shares an interesting perspective as a player who has signed contracts with APP and MLP, calling the past 6 months of back-and-forth negotiations "a little ridiculous." She seems largely ambivalent about the outcome as long as she can maintain her current salary and playing opportunities.
- 5:09, It sounds like you created your own APP/MLP merge Rettenmaier points out the unique situation Truong has created for herself by signing with both APP and MLP tours - essentially forcing her own merger between the two. Truong embraces this idea, hoping to continue playing APP events for the prize money while also competing in MLP's exciting new team format. Her loyalty lies with both organizations.
- 6:18, Who else can play any APP event The conversation shifts to speculating what other players likely have similar dual contracts allowing them to play both APP and PPA/MLP events at their discretion. Truong remains tight-lipped, offering vague confirmations but declining to name names.
- 7:19, Who are you going with in 2024 Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Truong discloses some of her initial partner pairings. Early partners include Mari Humberg for the first event, then John Cincola and then Ryler DeHeart. She classifies herself as a "right side girl for now" but is open to playing left side as circumstances dictate.
- 8:55, Training schedule Truong outlines her current training regimen now that she's settled in Salt Lake City - waking up early for workouts followed by 2-3 hour pickleball sessions focused mostly on drilling rather than games or tournament play. She details various recovery modalities and a dedication to healthy eating.
- 9:41, I hate rec games. I drill. I want those reps. I drill between 3-4 hours a day. When asked if she incorporates tournament play into her training, Truong emphatically states her distaste for "rec games" and her strong preference to spend training time exclusively drilling. She strives to log 3-4 hours of drilling per day to engrain muscle memory through repetitive practice.
- 10:29, Is it common for pros not to like rec play? Rettenmaier and D'Amico are surprised by Truong's drilling-only approach, wondering aloud if her avoidance of tournament play situations is common among pros. Truong asserts confidently that everyone has their own philosophy when it comes to training.
- 11:10, Travis: I've been listening to the King Of The Court Podcast lately Changing topics, Rettenmaier shares with amusement that he's recently started listening to competitor Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller's popular podcast and has noticed Miller's obvious fondness for Truong as a player.
- 11:46, Jimmy Miller has an affinity for you...right...like some sort of affection for you... Seeking clarification on Miller's praised of her on his show, the hosts imply Miller may have a bit of a crush on Truong. She seems unaware of his admiration but happily accepts it, laughing "if somebody has my back I'll take it."
- 13:19, Do you listen to pickleball podcasts? When asked if she listens to any pickleball podcasts herself, Truong says she rarely listens but may tune into episodes if someone mentions her by name. She expresses an amusing reluctance to listen to recordings of her own voice however.
- 14:09, Balls Talk turns to recent developments in approved balls for the upcoming APP and PPA pro tours. Rettenmaier shares her disappointing experience play testing Selkirk's new ball, complaining that it lacks consistency and dies unpredictably.
- 16:15, APP official ball: The Owl For APP events, she discloses they will implement use of a new Owl brand ball that is slightly heavier and slower than the popular Franklin but touts an easier to track greenish hue.
- 18:01, The Owl quite paddle Furthering their business relationship with APP, Owl has also introduced an innovative "Quiet Paddle" - the first of its kind attempting to dampen the signature popping sound of pickleball. Truong and the hosts debate pros and cons, questioning if removing the audible feedback could actually be detrimental.
- 19:30, Training with headphones on to be more visually receptive Brainstorming ways players could potentially train themselves to rely more heavily on visual over audio cues, the show producer suggests drilling with headphones on. Truong seems open to exploring anything that could give her an edge.
- 20:20, Bid on the APP ball contract The ball discussion elicits mock indignation from D'Amico that his own attempts to secure the APP ball sponsorship were overlooked in favor of Owl. Truong plays along with his satirical grandstanding.
- 21:36, Alix Tennis background Shifting focus back onto her personal journey, Truong shares that she played competitive junior tennis from ages 6-16 before recently discovering pickleball. Though denied a chance to play high-level tournaments, she credits her dad and athletic versatility for instilling solid fundamentals.
- 22:44, Do you model your game play after anyone When asked if she attempts to model her play after current female pros, Truong acknowledges similarities to Anna Bright's well-rounded offensive game and Jesse Irvine's methodical court coverage. But she aims to cultivate her own unique style.
- 24:00, Favorite players on the tour Speaking of Irvine, Truong names her and Bright as two of her favorite players to emulate - not only for their games but also their relentless energy and intensity. She aspires to channel that same fire into her own developing pro game.
- 25:09, Jack Sock As newly crowned mixed doubles world champions, the phenom pairing of Catherine Parenteau and retired tennis pro Jack Sock emerge as topics of intrigue. The hosts speculate on Sock's surprise decision to partner Collin Shick for the upcoming season over Rettenmaier himself or other higher profile options.
- 28:30, APP Money Truong outlines recently increased cash incentives now being offered by the APP tour to players committing to a minimum number of events. By agreeing to their 6 or 12 tournament deals, players can substantially supplement their income.
- 31:14, New tournament format - no back draw Further incentivizing player participation, Alix explains that APP has now eliminated the grueling backdraw bracket in favor of stopping play after the quarterfinals. This allows top players to preserve energy and reduce risk of injury.
- 32:56, I like watching APP streams to find new talent Agreeing the APP format changes sound positive, D'Amico voices his enthusiasm for once again being able to watch live stream events. As owners of professional team the Florida Smash, scouting amateur and up-and-coming talent on the APP tours aligns perfectly with their goals of developing fresh pros.
- 33:38, Draft In a clever segue highlighting his previous poor draft choice selecting D'Amico as a partner, Rettenmaier laments they have yet to hear expected details on the 2024 MLP league draft set to happen imminently. D'Amico maintains steadfast confidence that key information will emerge in early January.
- 34:29, We got to go With allocated court time expiring, goodbyes are exchanged and the conversation concludes on an amusingly awkward note - a perfect encapsulation of this unconventional podcast and its one-of-a-kind rapport with listeners. As Troung continues her quest to join pickleball's elite, one thing seems certain: this won't be her last appearance on Tennis Sucks.
Rising young pickleball star Alix Truong joins hosts Travis Rettenmaier and Graham D'Amico for a wide-ranging and entertaining discussion on the latest episode of the Tennis Sucks podcast.
Just 18 years old, Truong provides thoughtful perspectives from her unique vantage point as an up-and-coming player on the professional tours. Now training full-time after recently relocating to Salt Lake City, she details her training regimen focused primarily on high-volume pickleball drilling.
Trugong shares her opinions on the turbulent PPA/MLP merger negotiations, feeling frustrated by months over contracts. With an existing deal to play MLP events, she secured special dispensation this year allowing her to continue APP tour participation as well. She embraces essentially forcing her own joint APP-MLP merger.
Offering a peek behind the scenes of the pro circuit, Truong discloses some of her initial partner pairings for early 2024 tournaments. She classifies herself as most comfortable on the right side currently but is working diligently to improve her left side skills as well.
Additional hot topic areas covered include debate around pickleball brands Silkirk and Owl being named official balls for the upcoming tours, amusing discussion around competitor Jimmy Miller's affection for Truong, and the APP circuit implementing format changes to increase event efficiency.
With her teenage perspective, Truong breathes insightful life into the show’s free-flowing banter and unfiltered commentary. As her profile continues rising rapidly, one certainty emerges – this won’t be her last cameo on the Tennis Sucks podcast.
- 0:40 Alix Troung Intro
- 2:40 The PPA/MLP Merger
- 5:09 It sounds like you created your own APP/MLP merge
- 6:18 Who else can play any APP event
- 7:19 Who are you going with in 2024
- 8:55 Training schedule
- 9:41 I hate rec games. I drill. I want those reps. I drill between 3-4 hours a day.
- 10:29 Is it common for pros not to like rec play?
- 11:10 Travis: I've been listening to the King Of The Court Podcast lately
- 11:46 Jimmy Miller has an affinity for you...right...like some sort of affection for you...
- 13:19 Do you listen to pickleball podcasts?
- 14:09 Balls
- 16:15 APP official ball: The Owl
- 18:01 The Owl quite paddle
- 19:30 Training with headphones on to be more visually receptive
- 20:20 Bid on the APP ball contract
- 21:36 Alix Tennis background
- 22:44 Do you model your game play after anyone
- 24:00 Favorite players on the tour
- 25:09 Jack Sock
- 28:30 APP Money
- 31:14 New tournament format - no back draw
- 32:56 I like watching APP streams to find new talent
- 33:38 Draft
- 34:29 We got to go
19 Question Multiple Choice Quiz
1. Where did Alix recently move to train full-time?
a) Los Angeles b) Salt Lake City c) Austin d) San Diego
2. What two tours has Alix signed contracts with for 2024?
a) APP and PPA b) APP and MLP c) PPA and MLP d) None of the above
3. Who does Alix cite as two pros she will partner with early in 2024?
a) Simone Jardim and Parris Todd b) Mari Humberg and John Cincola
c) Susannah Barr and Megan Fudge d) Jessie Irvine and Jennifer Dawson
4. How many hours per day does Alix try to drill pickleball?
a) 1-2 hours b) 3-4 hours c) 4-6 hours d) 6+ hours
5. What training format does Alix strongly dislike?
a) Conditioning b) Solo drills c) Rec games d) Practicing both sides
6. Who is Alix rumored to have an 'affinity' for her as a player?
a) Travis Rettenmaier b) Jimmy Miller c) Graham D'Amico d) Hayden Patriquin
7. What disappointing new ball does Travis complain about testing?
a) Gamma b) Silkirk c) Onix d) Head
8. For APP events, what new brand ball will be used instead of Franklin?
a) Monarch b) Vulcan c) Owl d) Python
9. What is unique about the new 'Quiet Paddle' created by Owl?
a) Changed grip shape b) Brighter colors c) Dampened sound d) Cheaper price
10. How old was Alix when she started playing competitive tennis?
a) 4 years old b) 6 years old c) 10 years old d) 12 years old
11. What two well-known pros does Alix compare her style of play to?
a) Tyson McGuffin and Matt Wright b) Riley Newman and Ben Johns c) Anna Bright and Jessie Irvine d) Simone Jardim and Lucy Kovalova
12. Who are Alix's two favorite female players on the pro tours?
a) Corrine Carr and Megan Fudge b) Sarah Ansboury and Jocelyn Devilliers c) Anna Bright and Jessie Irvine d) Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters
13. Who has Jack Sock surprisingly decided to partner with next season?
a) Ben Johns b) Matt Wright c) Collin Shick d) DJ Young
14. How much can Graham earn if he wins every APP event she enters next year?
a) $10,000 b) $30,000 c) $40,000 d) $50,000
15. What format change was implemented by the APP tour for 2024?
a) No more qualifiers b) Larger draw sizes c) No backdraw bracket d) Only gold medal matches
16. Why does Graham D'Amico enjoy streaming APP tour events?
a) Better matchups b) Easier announcing c) Scouting new talent d) Increased viewership
17. When does Graham stubbornly insist the next MLP league draft details will be released?
a) Mid-December b) Early January c) After the holidays d) Before the new year
18. Where does Alix rank on the latest Women's Singles APP National Rankings?
a) #32 b) #18 c) #5 d) #2
19. What does Alix classify herself as for now on the court?
a) A lefty b) A righty c) A right side girl d) A left side player
Answer Key:
- b
- c
- b
- b
- c
- b
- b
- c
- c
- b
- c
- c
- c
- d
- c
- c
- b
- c
- c
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