Lucy Wants to Play With Who?

[@richardwilliams3916]

Lucy is so likeable. I always enjoy her on court and off.

[@roadbike38]

Wow! This is my first opportunity hearing Lucy in a relaxing setting and she is very nice, funny and different when I see her playing. I am a fan of Lucy now. Thanks KOTC for this podcast with her.

[@nakwhat]

Jimmy has got to let all the guests finish their sentences to the questions he asked them

[@ToddGreimann]

One of your best interviews and guests.. Lucy is great! Remember meeting her at JW Marriott PPA this year (2024) in AZ.. Great personality and great smile..

[@Moke.Pickleball]

Came for Lucy. Absolute babe, cutie pie, and sweetheart.

[@digitalreporter]

Pickleball's Maverick: Lucy Kovalova Serves Up Unfiltered Truth A Slovakian Sensation Redefines the Game's Professional Landscape In the rapidly evolving world of pickleball, few players capture the sport's spirit quite like Lucy Kovalova. With a blend of raw honesty, strategic prowess, and an unapologetic approach to competition, she represents a generation of athletes transforming a once-casual pastime into a serious professional pursuit. During an interview on the King Of The Court podcast at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships, Kovalova peeled back the curtain on her journey, offering a penetrating look into the sport's transformation and her own remarkable career. Far from a polished PR narrative, her conversation was a refreshingly candid exploration of pickleball's professional metamorphosis. At 32, Kovalova stands as a bridge between pickleball's grassroots origins and its current professional incarnation. Her perspective is nuanced, simultaneously celebrating the sport's growth while mourning something ineffable lost in its commercialization. "Back then, we didn't compete for money," she reflected. "We competed for medals and for good times. It wasn't as serious-it was just pure love of the game." Her words encapsulate a profound shift in competitive sports, where passion increasingly intersects with professional ambition. Kovalova's journey is anything but typical. A native of Slovakia who transitioned to the United States, she has become a cornerstone of professional pickleball. Her multilingual background-speaking Slovakian, English, and understanding Czech and Polish-mirrors her ability to navigate complex sporting landscapes. Her partnership with Matt Wright has been particularly noteworthy. While many professional duos fracture under pressure, they've maintained a collaborative relationship that transcends mere on-court performance. When discussing potential future partnerships, Kovalova was characteristically direct: "I'll play mixed doubles with Matt, obviously. But if he's not playing some tournaments, I'll play with different partners as I did before." This pragmatic approach extends to her court strategy. Primarily a right-side player, Kovalova has developed a keen understanding of positioning and partnership dynamics. "I'm not going to be moving to a left-side player after playing right for years," she stated, demonstrating a clear-eyed assessment of her strengths. The interview revealed Kovalova's strategic mind extends beyond personal performance. She offered pointed critique of current tournament structures, particularly progressive draws that stretch competitions across multiple days. "Let's say I play one match midday on Tuesday, then two matches on Wednesday," she explained. "By Thursday, I might play just one match at 4 p.m. It's just a lot of waiting around." Her commentary on pickleball's professionalization was particularly compelling. While acknowledging significant improvements-"PPA has elevated the game from YMCA courts to beautiful venues"-she also expressed concern about losing the sport's initial spirit. "Now it's more like a business," she observed. "Back then, we played for the fun of the game. Now it feels more serious, less pure." This tension between professional aspiration and preserving athletic joy seems to define Kovalova's current perspective. She's not nostalgic, exactly, but reflective-understanding that sports, like all living things, must evolve to survive. When asked about her playing future, she was characteristically pragmatic. "Ideally, I'd like to play out this current contract and maybe another two to four years," she said. "Math doesn't lie. If the numbers make sense, I'll continue."

[@WooPickleball]

At 11:30 Lucy talks about not liking to played the left side in Mixed Doubles. She states that it's because she does not like being in front of the guy. I don't understand because if she is playing the left and the other team's guy is playing the left wouldn't she then be in front of the female instead? Am I missing something? If she plays the right side, wouldn't she always be "in front of the guy"?

[@sweetfancymoses2942]

*with whom

[@ninamarie2035]

Lovely Lucy … funny seeing her give Jimmy 💩

[@Mr.Martini549]

The Slovak Gangsta!!!!

[@The_pickleball_fennec]

lucy is the slovakian queen and viv is the princess 😊

[@JasonDeats]

Jimmy is out of control. Not cool.