Pickleball has seen a rapid rise in the US lately, with about 36.5 M people estimated to have played the game at least once in 2022. There are plenty from the tennis world who took up the paddle, keeping aside their beloved rackets. Pickleball’s similarities with tennis have drawn several comparisons between the two sports, with now even rule changes bleeding from one to the other.

Recently, Coco Gauff‘s coach Brad Gilbert made a similar comparison surrounding the netman on the court during a doubles tennis match. He believes doubles tennis must take notes from pickleball when the new set of rules gets tested in the doubles draw in Madrid this year. It includes no sit-downs in the first sets, revamped entry systems to suit singles players better, and many more. But what are the other changes Gilbert wants to see in tennis?

Coco Gauff’s coach gives an “interesting” suggestion for doubles tennis

Despite these recent inclusions in doubles tennis, Gilbert wants tennis to bring in some changes taken from pickleball. Pickleball doesn’t allow players to get inside the forecourt(kitchen). Gilbert says that doubles tennis should do the same when a player hits their serve. He recently tweeted, “I Would like to see net man when partner serving not allowed to stand on top of net.” Coco Gauff’s coach went on to add that, “Maybe a pickle kitchen line, would be more interesting.” But what is Kitchen in Pickleball?

The 7-foot zone on each side of the net is known as the non-volley zone. It’s also commonly referred to as “the kitchen” of a pickleball court. In this zone, the players are not permitted to volley while standing in it. The main aim of this rule is to prevent a player from standing at the net and smashing every hit.

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Brad Gilbert has time and again reflected on his love for pickleball. Last year the 62YO American coach shared some important insights into the paddle sport while giving a huge shoutout to a new practice product in pickleball. However, a few from the tennis world didn’t like Gilbert’s way of advocating a different racket sport. Serena Williams‘ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, was the first to react to Gilbert’s post.

Serena Williams’ former coach is not a big fan of pickleball

Rennae Stubbs has been quite vocal about her dislike of pickleball over the past few months. So, when Brad Gilbert shared a video clip explaining the features of the new pickleball practice game, ‘Dink Master Wall,’ Rennae Stubbs put up a cryptic comment under his post.

Coco Gauff’s coach was seen saying in the clip, “You can now come check out your skills, check your paddle, see how they play. It’s a very good little pickleball Dink Master option”. After hearing his views on the new racket sport, Stubbs couldn’t resist commenting on that post and she ended up leaving a cryptic “Oy” comment under Gilbert’s video.

So, this tussle between pickleball and tennis is now going to be the biggest battle in the sporting world. But in between that, taking good things from both sports and improving each of them isn’t a bad idea right?

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