"Same number of division one wins as my daughter, she's 11": James Blake scorches pickleball pro over tennis comparison
ATPWednesday, 03 April 2024 at 18:30
James Blake
recently responded to Christian Alshon's claim, a professional pickleball
player, who compared his sport to tennis. The 31-year-old athlete played tennis
for the University of Chicago but switched to pickleball in 2021 when he won
the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II championship.
On the
Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tour, he currently holds the fifth
position in the rankings. He recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to compare
tennis and pickleball and asserted that the latter has made him a better
athlete as it is more demanding.
"Pickleball
has made me a much better athlete than Tennis ever did. Faster reaction time
and speed are needed since the ball is only coming from 10 feet away. Point for
point, pickleball requires more skill than tennis," he wrote.
Former
world No. 4 James Blake disagreed with Alshon and criticized him for his
performance as a tennis player in the past: "Haha. That might be because
you were playing a pretty low level of tennis. Maybe if you were familiar with
the athleticism it takes to excel at the sport you would realize how ridiculous
this statement is," Blake wrote in a reply to the pickleball professional's
tweet.
Read also
Another
user responded to Blake, highlighting that Alshon was seventh-ranked: "I
like James a lot but Alshon was the seventh ranked recruit in the 2019 class.
Low level of tennis? Good lord"
"He
has the same number of division 1 college wins as my daughter. (She's 11),"
Blake responded.
"The
sarcastic comment from the current director of the Miami Open prompted a
response from the world No. 5 Jessica Pegula, who left a short tweet with three
skull emojis."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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