Rising Pickleball Star Alix Truong Aims for Greatness, One Point at a Time
Professional Phenom Follows Passion from Tennis Courts to Pickleball Primacy
In the rapidly growing world of professional pickleball, few athletes embody the sport's youthful dynamism and boundless potential quite like Alix Truong. At 19 years old, the Utah resident has already established herself as a formidable force on the court, her powerful groundstrokes and deft touch around the net leaving opponents in awe. Yet, it is Truong's palpable enthusiasm and relentless pursuit of excellence that truly set her apart, captivating fans and foreshadowing a career destined for pickleball greatness.
1:35, Are you a morning trainer or a post-lunch trainer? Truong's dedication to her craft begins before most people have had their first cup of coffee. A self-proclaimed night owl, she has embraced the discipline of an early riser, often hitting the gym by 8:30 a.m. for a comprehensive training regimen overseen by her personal team of experts. "I don't like to sit still," she confesses with a laugh. "I always joke about it to people, but I just have to be doing something." That "something" typically involves a morning workout followed by two to five hours of on-court drilling and recreational play, bookended by recovery sessions and strategic planning.
4:00, How did you get into pickleball? Truong's pickleball journey began somewhat serendipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a high school tennis player, she found herself locked out of the public courts near her home when they were closed due to safety restrictions. A friend's private court, adorned with pickleball lines, piqued her curiosity, and before long, Truong was hooked. "I signed up for my first tournament with my dad the next month," she recalls, "and just fell in love with it like everybody else." Her rapid ascent in the sport was fueled by an unyielding commitment to improvement and an insatiable competitive drive.
5:58, How hard was it to walk away from tennis to focus on pickleball? While the decision to leave her high school tennis team behind might have been agonizing for some, Truong viewed it as a natural progression. "I didn't really like the social aspects of school," she explains. "I was always very independent, and my learning styles are very different." The pandemic's disruption of traditional schooling allowed her to thrive academically on her own terms, while the arrival of pickleball provided an irresistible athletic outlet. "It was pretty easy to walk away and, falling in love with pickleball, I was like, 'You can do this every day, 24 hours.'"
10:10, Personal growth through professional pickleball Truong's pickleball pursuits have catalyzed her personal growth in ways that extend far beyond the court. "Playing tournaments and then as you get better in those tournaments, like maybe you played on Center Court, and then you have to do an interview," she explains, "I had to learn to speak well and talk to older people in the community who have that life experience." The sport has imbued her with a level of poise and professionalism that belies her teenage years, a fortifying experience that will serve her well as her career continues to blossom.
12:50, Pickleball sponsors & how they contribute to your success Success at the highest levels of any sport requires not just talent and hard work but also the support of invested partners. For Truong, that backing comes from industry leaders like Engage Pickleball and Chicken N Pickle. "I truly believe in Engage, I truly believe in Chicken N Pickle, what their missions are and the products that they put out there, their quality," she says. These sponsors provide invaluable resources and a collaborative environment that allows Truong to focus on her game while representing brands she genuinely admires.
15:29, Engage Pickleball & Chicken N Pickle Truong's glowing praise for her sponsors is well-earned. Engage Pickleball, an iconic brand with deep roots in the sport, produces some of the finest paddles on the market, while the innovative Chicken N Pickle facilities have captured the imaginations of pickleball enthusiasts nationwide with their unique blend of recreation and hospitality. "It's an amazing place to just go and hang out," Truong raves, recounting the mouthwatering cuisine and lively atmosphere she encountered on her first visit.
Watch/Read Alix Truong's Previous Interviews/APP Player Blog
18:15, Major League Pickleball Perhaps no development has impacted the professional pickleball landscape quite like the advent of Major League Pickleball (MLP). Truong, a member of the Black Diamonds franchise, revels in the electric energy and raucous crowds that distinguish MLP events. "The crowds erupting, there's people with signs, and their chests are painted, and like noise makers – it's crazy, and I love how everybody gets so into it," she enthuses. The team format has injected an extra dose of camaraderie and friendly rivalry into the sport, further endearing it to players and spectators alike.
23:27 The Brock Purdy of Pickleball and Ms. Irrelevant Despite being dubbed "Ms. Irrelevant" by some pundits after being the last pick in the MLP draft, Truong embraces the underdog narrative with her characteristic mix of humility and determination. "I get tagged in a lot of tweets, like, 'Oh, the Utah Black Diamonds are statistically the most likely team to come in last,'" she says with a laugh. "I'm replying to these tweets, I'm like, 'We're not coming in 12th,' and then I get replies after that, '13th, question mark?'" Undeterred, Truong sees an opportunity to defy expectations through the intangible bonds of team chemistry.
24:55, Team chemistry in pickleball While pre-season projections are often based solely on individual player rankings, Truong understands that the x-factor of team cohesion can render such predictions moot. "You can look at paper and just look at all teams in any of the sports," she observes. "You put two of the best tennis players together, like a female tennis player and a male tennis player – that doesn't mean that they're going to be the best mixed doubles team. They might not have good chemistry." Her Black Diamonds may be outmatched on paper, but Truong is convinced that their rapport and esprit de corps will propel them to unexpected heights.
27:03, Are you a goal setter? What are your goals for the rest of the year? When it comes to goal-setting, Truong subscribes to a pragmatic, process-oriented approach informed by the insights of her coaching staff. "I've been working really hard on my mental game," she explains. Rather than fixating solely on results-based objectives like rankings or medal counts, Truong focuses on incremental, performance-based targets – hitting a certain percentage of drop shots in practice, for instance. "Setting those tiny tasks and knowing that I can complete those daily goals every single day," she says, "it's satisfying knowing that you actually can check something off your list immediately."
In the end, Truong's aspirations are as lofty as they are nuanced: "Of course I want to be number one. Of course, I want to have as many medals as I can... But I'm just taking those little steps to get there." With her prodigious talents, unwavering dedication, and mature perspective, the pickleball world would be wise not to underestimate this rising star's ability to turn those little steps into a giant leap towards greatness.
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