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Connor Garnett: A Journey to The Top of The Pickleball World
Connor Garnett joins the Front Row podcast and discusses his rise to a top 5 world ranking in Pickleball. After a terrific tennis career at Santa Clara University and working as a hitting partner with Novak Djokovic, Connor made the switch to pickleball and explains his journey and the obstacles he has overcome in this popular sport.
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Time: 0:55
The Two Leagues of Pickleball: MLP & PPA
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Time: 0:59
How Do You See Pickleball Growing In The Future?
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Time: 1:30
Tough Tennis Coach Shaped Connor Into Who He Is Today
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Time: 1:00
Stubbornness Fuels Competitive Spirit
Coach Mark Gottfried and Connor Garnett
0:12 – Coach Mark Gottfried talks to one of the top Pickleball players in the world.
5:02 – Transition from Tennis to Pickleball.
7:02 – Inherent stubbornness fuels competitive spirit.
9:48 – “Tough tennis coach shaped me, made me tougher.”
13:37 – Growing interest in UFC and combat sports.
19:01 – Pressure on sports leaders to secure lucrative TV contracts.
21:36 – Reflect on past struggles, beat the obstacles, and keep moving forward.
25:31 – “Top players study film to improve their game.”
27:58 – Aggressive two-handed backhand revolutionizes tennis shots.
32:21 – Influencers, balancing making money & improving, and the evolving role of social media.
34:34 – Pickleball may become an Olympic sport in the future.
39:06 – Different tennis player styles adapting to pickleball.
41:27 – Balancing competitiveness and off-court preparation for success.
43:35 – “Work hard in silence, let results speak.”
47:42 – “Staying at the top in sports is tough.”
