Social Media Star Rachel Stuhlmann Debuts at PPA Virginia Beach
Last Edited
Oct 01 2024
Category
News
Rachel Stuhlmann cringes when she says the word "influencer."
But she admits that's part of what she does and who she is: a social media star who made a name for herself in tennis before adding pickleball to her content plans.
Rachel was already a standout athlete at the collegiate level, but now she's translating her influencer interest in pickleball into a run at PPA Tour gold.
Rachel is stepping onto the pro pickleball scene for the first time at the PPA Virginia Beach Open.
Her debut isn’t just another tennis-to-pickleball story—it's a glimpse into the growing bridge between the two worlds.
Combating Tennis Community's Doubters
Rachel's Instagram profile is packed with pickleball content right now, but the reactions from the tennis side of her follower count have been mixed.
Some tennis purists scoff at the switch, seeing pickleball as a sideshow, but Rachel is firm in her stance.
“I love seeing my friends from the tennis tours thrive in another sport,” she says.
Watching legends like Agassi experience the thrill of the game only solidifies her belief. “He just kept saying, ‘this is so fun!’ and seeing how happy he is makes me happy, too,” she adds.
Transitioning to Pro Pickleball
Stuhlmann says she's "realistic" about the hurdles of transitioning from tennis to pickleball.
The soft game is a stark contrast to tennis's aggressive volleys and putaways. It's something that former tennis pros who've entered into pickleball events already have notably struggled with.
“I feel like I have to think about every soft shot, every time,” Rachel says, highlighting the mental challenge of adjusting her natural instinct to slam.
Beyond technique, there's also the challenge of branding and media.
While some of the top pickleball pros of recent years struggled to gain a following, the tennis-to-pickleball crowd often arrives with a built-in audience, like Rachel’s, which she views as an advantage.
“The pros switching over already have that following, which helps elevate the sport’s visibility,” she explains.
Rachel’s passion for pickleball has grown from consulting and organizing tournaments to picking up a paddle competitively. “I was blown away by the friendliness of the crowd and the tour itself,” she recalls of her time traveling to pickleball events.
Now, in Virginia Beach, Rachel will compete in mixed doubles alongside pro & mentor Ryan Sherry. With her backhand honed and a relentless focus on sharpening her soft game, she’s ready for the test.
“I’m not necessarily expecting the best result, but I want to show the physicality of the sport and what it means to take this seriously,” she says.
The real excitement? The possibility of playing against the best. Rachel is clear: if she continues after this debut, she wants to compete at the top level.
“I respect how athletic the top pickleball pros are and the time they put into being the best,” she says of the PPA Tour's elite.
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For now, she’s thrilled to be part of the community and bring people together, believing in pickleball’s unique ability to unite players of all backgrounds.
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