Rallying for a Change: How Meryl Served Up a New Passion in Pickleball
From Tennis to Pickleball: Merrill’s Journey to the National Pickleball League
Merrill, a 53-year-old former tennis player from Saratoga Springs, New York, has found a new passion in pickleball. As a member of the Princeton Bruisers, one of 12 franchises in the National Pickleball League for players over 50, Merrill competes against top-notch players across the country.
Merrill’s journey into pickleball began in 2019 when she attended a tournament to watch her friends play. She decided to give it a try and was hooked. “I thought, ’Okay, this is going to be fun,'” she recalls. Fast forward to the present, Merrill plays women’s and mixed doubles, traveling to cities like Austin, Houston, Seattle, and Kansas City for tournaments.
Despite the demanding travel schedule, Merrill enjoys the thrill of competition and the opportunity to meet new people. “Some mornings I wake up and go to the airport and say to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this again,'” she laughs. “It’s a lot of travel, but it’s really fun.”
Merrill’s team, the Princeton Bruisers, is currently in the middle of the NPL standings with an 8-8 record. Although she didn’t start playing pickleball until later in life, Merrill’s tennis background has given her an edge in the sport. “I think it just comes down to muscle memory,” she says. ”But some people think pickleball is just for old people, but it’s a tough sport, especially at the professional level.”
Merrill’s tennis career was marked by injuries, including a thumb injury during her senior year of high school and shoulder problems later on. However, pickleball has proven to be a more forgiving sport for her. “I quit tennis after college, got married, and had two sons,” she says. “I started playing again when I was 35, but then I quit again. I started playing pickleball when I was giving lessons to kids, and I just fell in love with it.”
Merrill’s children, both in their 20s, have also taken up pickleball. Despite her busy schedule as a pharmaceutical company CEO, Merrill tries to practice her pickleball skills whenever she can. “I don’t get as much opportunity to practice as I would like, but I make do with what I have,” she says.
A Brief History of Merrill’s Tennis Career
In July 1989, Merrill won the Schenectady County Open and earned a wild card into the OTB Open, a stage of the WTA Tour held in Central Park. She played Eva Krapl of Switzerland on the grandstand court in front of a large crowd, ultimately losing in three sets.
Merrill’s father, Rod Whalen, introduced her to tennis when she was a child. Her coach and mentor, Rich Johns, helped her develop her skills, and she went on to win four straight Section II girls’ tennis championships while attending Saratoga Springs High School.
The Relationship Between Pickleball and Tennis
Some tennis enthusiasts, like Dr. Brian Heinlein of the United States Tennis Association, worry that pickleball’s growing popularity will negatively impact tennis. However, American tennis player Taylor Fritz disagrees. “I think there are people in the tennis world who absolutely hate pickleball,” he says. “But I don’t have a problem with pickleball. I like playing it sometimes. I don’t see any reason why they can’t both exist.”
A Tribute to Neeti Singh
Former Niskayuna resident and OTB Open tournament director Neeti Singh was recently inducted into the USTA-Eastern Section Hall of Fame. Singh traveled from his home in Naples, Florida, to New York City to receive the honor and was treated to a special visit with tennis legend Billie Jean King.
“It was a long train ride, but I really enjoyed it, and there were a lot of friends I met through tennis there,” Singh says. “Everyone said I gave the best speech, so it was a really fun time.”