Pickleball’s Global Ambassador: Megan Fudge on Family, Discipline, and Growing the Sport
A Conversation with the Pro Pickleball Player on Her Journey from Germany to the World Stage
Megan Fudge is a force to be reckoned with in the world of pickleball. A former tennis star who competed at the University of Illinois, she has seamlessly transitioned her skills to become a dominant figure in professional pickleball. With top rankings in singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles on the AP tour, Fudge’s prowess on the court is matched only by her dedication to growing the sport globally. As the wife of fellow pro pickleball player Ryler DeHeart and mother to two children, Fudge’s journey is one of discipline, passion, and family. In a recent episode of the podcast Talk Pickle To Me, hosted by Kaitlyn Kerr, Fudge sat down to discuss her unique path, from her international upbringing to her efforts to expand pickleball overseas, all while balancing life on the road with her husband and kids. Here’s what she had to say.
Q&A with Megan Fudge 1. 0:00 - How does the host introduce Megan Fudge? Host Kaitlyn Kerr kicks off the podcast by welcoming listeners to the ninth episode of her series on the 10 most influential women in pickleball. She introduces Megan Fudge as a former tennis standout from the University of Illinois who has risen to prominence in professional pickleball, achieving top rankings on the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) tour in singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles. Kerr highlights Fudge’s personal life as well, noting that she’s married to pro pickleball player Ryler DeHeart and is a mother to two children, JR and Lily, who are often seen at tournaments. 2. 1:30 - Can you tell us about your upbringing and family background? Megan Fudge shares that she grew up in Germany. Her father hails from New Zealand and her mother is from England. She attended a German school and spent her childhood playing tennis on red clay courts. At 15, she left home to attend Millfield, sports boarding school in England, which she likens to Hogwarts for its magical atmosphere. Later, she moved to the United States to play college tennis at the University of Illinois, where she met her husband, Ryler DeHeart, cementing her path in America. 3. 2:30 - What was your experience like attending a sports boarding school in England? Fudge describes her time at Millfield as extraordinary. The school offered a vast array of sports, from tennis to chess—her roommate was a chess master who represented Great Britain. She emphasizes the exceptional facilities, top-tier coaches, and competitive environment, noting that Millfield produced numerous elite athletes, including Olympians. After just two days of the last Olympics, the school’s alumni had racked up more medals than Australia combined, underscoring its legacy. 4. 3:30 - Where does your competitive drive and discipline come from? Fudge attributes her fierce competitiveness and discipline to her family and upbringing. Sports were a cornerstone of her life from a young age—whether it was tennis, squash, or badminton, she was always eager to compete. Her father, a director of tennis and her coach, instilled a strong work ethic and high expectations. Growing up immersed in tennis, she spent her days on the court, absorbing a culture of dedication that she now passes on to her own children in the pickleball world. 5. 7:30 - What was it like competing in mixed doubles with your husband, Ryler DeHeart? Fudge recounts how she and Ryler began playing pickleball together to reconnect as a couple after their lives diverged—she in insurance, he in tennis coaching. Initially, it was a joy, but their mutual competitiveness led to frustrations on the court. Despite memorable highs, like winning silver at the English Open and bronze at the US Open, the lows strained their relationship. They ultimately chose their marriage over mixed doubles, a decision she views as wise, allowing them to support each other as individuals while keeping two income streams alive in tournaments. 6. 14:00 - How do you approach sponsorship deals and build deep relationships with sponsors? Fudge explains that she seeks sponsors who align with her family’s wholehearted commitment to pickleball. Her first major sponsor, Gamma, believed in her potential early on, fostering a reciprocal relationship that grew as she succeeded. When her focus shifted to international markets, she transitioned to Franklin, drawn by their global vision. She values open communication and mutual goals, visiting sponsor headquarters to strengthen ties, ensuring partnerships—like those with Gamma and Franklin—go beyond transactions to reflect shared passion and support. 7. 17:10 - How have you contributed to expanding pickleball internationally? With her international roots and tennis connections, Fudge has become a pioneer in growing pickleball overseas. She and Ryler, who played on the pro tennis tour, see pickleball’s potential as a global sport. They’ve competed and conducted workshops in countries like England, India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Dubai, leveraging their Franklin sponsorship and personal networks to promote the game. Fudge views it as a passion project, exposing new players and cultures to pickleball while enriching her family’s travels. 8. 26:30 - Can you share your experience homeschooling your children while traveling? Fudge details how homeschooling her children, JR and Lily, began during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved a perfect fit for their nomadic lifestyle in an RV. With a background in special education, she guides them through a structured curriculum supported by Zoom teachers, while travel enriches their learning. From robots in Chinese hotels to stray cats in Thailand, her kids gain unique perspectives, grounding the family and complementing their pickleball-driven life with real-world education. 9. 30:30 - Do you manage your own social media and blog? Fudge confirms she largely handles her own social media and blog, with occasional help posting match clips to stay active online. Initially unfamiliar with social platforms, she’s embraced them as a way to share her journey as a pro athlete, mom, and RV dweller. Blogging, in particular, serves as a personal diary, documenting her family’s adventures for herself, her kids, and her memory-challenged husband, Ryler, while connecting with fans who follow her story. 10. 34:20 - What changes or progressions would you like to see in pickleball? Fudge reflects on the sport’s tour wars, acknowledging their negative optics but also their potential to drive discussion and growth. She believes multiple tours—like the APP, which she supports—create opportunities for players, rather than a single dominant path like the PPA. While she wishes for more harmony, she sees conflict as a catalyst for progress, advocating for diverse ways to play professionally and ensuring the sport remains inclusive and dynamic. 11. 37:35 - What are your upcoming plans and goals? Fudge outlines a busy slate: the Sacramento APP tournament, a training block in Oahu, Hawaii—where Ryler was born and they recharge as a family—and then the PWR India League. She loves Hawaii’s beauty and pickleball community, planning to train there with pros like Kevin and Jamie. These trips blend competition, family time, and relaxation, keeping her grounded as she balances her career and personal life on the road. 12. 40:00 - Can you tell us about the upcoming PWR team event in India? Fudge is excited for the PWR team event in Mumbai in March, following her Hawaii stint. The event features a draft, team owners, and a format of two men and two women per team, with many American players involved. She praises India’s vibrant culture and the impressive stadium from her last visit, recognizing the growing pains of international tours but emphasizing the importance of supporting their development for pickleball’s global future. 13. 42:00 - What do you do to continuously improve and get 1% better? Fudge focuses on progress over specific goals, aiming to improve daily as a player, mom, and person. She works with coaches like Dayne Gingrich and Davidson Koslowski, drilling systematically, while Ryler pushes her in practice. Her routine includes homeschooling, three-to-four-hour court sessions, and gym work—sometimes in a sauna—balanced with family time. For her, it’s a disciplined job she loves, driven by the mantra that stagnation means falling behind. Summary In this engaging interview on Talk Pickle To Me, Megan Fudge opens up about her unique journey from growing up in Germany to becoming a top professional pickleball player. She discusses her disciplined upbringing, the challenges of competing with her husband, her strategic approach to sponsorships, and her pivotal role in expanding pickleball internationally. Fudge also shares insights into her family life, including homeschooling her children while traveling, and her commitment to continuous improvement both on and off the court. Her story is a testament to passion, resilience, and the power of family in shaping a global sports legacy.
Descriptive Time Code List
- 0:00: Introduction by host Kaitlyn Kerr, spotlighting Megan Fudge’s tennis and pickleball achievements.
- 1:30: Megan’s upbringing in Germany and family background in sports.
- 2:30: Experience at Millfield, a sports boarding school in England.
- 3:30: Origins of her competitive drive and discipline from her family.
- 7:30: Competing in mixed doubles with her husband, Ryler DeHeart.
- 14:00: Approach to building deep, meaningful sponsorship deals.
- 17:10: Efforts to expand pickleball overseas through travel and workshops.
- 26:30: Homeschooling her children while traveling in an RV.
- 30:30: Managing her own social media and blog as a personal outlet.
- 34:20: Thoughts on pickleball’s progression and the role of multiple tours.
- 37:35: Upcoming plans, including Sacramento, Hawaii, and India.
- 40:00: Details about the PWR team event in Mumbai, India.
- 42:00: Strategies for getting 1% better every day through coaching and routine.
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