‍Home town: Brisbane, QLD Australia

Playing Hand: Right Handed

Sponsors: Franklin Pickleball

‍

With the championship event just around the corner, how is your training and preparation going? Do you have any specific areas you’re focusing on?

Since Vietnam I’ve been taking it pretty easy on the practice court. The heat/humidity combo was taxing on the body so it was nice to have a holiday afterwards and some time away from the court. With the tournament schedule being so packed over the last couple of months I’ve been focussing more on keeping up my overall skill level in practice rather than focusing on specifics. I’m keen to finish the year strong and give it everything at the PPA Australia Melbourne championships

‍

You’ve been on fire this season! Leading the points race with recent wins at the Vietnam Open and Gold Coast Open and some podium finishes! Can you talk us through what’s been working, or if you’ll make any changes at the Melbourne Champs?

Looking beyond the end results, I’m feeling pretty satisfied with the level of pickleball I’ve been playing this season. The overall level among the Aussie players has risen a lot this year and it’s getting harder and harder to make a deep run in the events. I didn’t win many gold medals in the first half of the year but things are clicking now, which is funny because I haven’t been training as often on/off court in the last few months. Since it’s all been working well I haven’t changed anything ahead of the Melbourne event.

Switching gears to MLP Australia, you’ve been representing the Sydney Smash this season. What’s the team experience like? How are you and your team mates feeling about your recent results and ahead of Melb champs?

Let’s go Smash! I’ve had a great time on and off court with the Sydney Smash team this season. I enjoy the team experience, especially having teammates cheering us on from the sidelines. Our on court results haven’t gone to plan yet, but we’re so close to piecing it all together and I’m optimistic about how we’ll do in Melbourne. We’re going to give it our all!

‍

‍

Looking ahead, MLP Australia and PPA Tour Australia have announced a $1million prize pool for 2025. Can we expect to see you back next season and in the draft? Do you have any other big goals for 2025?

The $1 Million prize pool announced for the PPA/MLPA events next year is huge! There’s been so many exciting announcements coming out for the Aussie/Asia pickleball space in 2025 that it’s hard to keep track of. Next year I want to be involved in as much pickleball as possible, continue to improve my game, and hopefully test myself against some of the world’s top players. We’ll see where I get drafted next year but for now my focus is on finishing this season out strong with the Sydney Smash and hopefully raising that MLPA trophy in Melbourne!

‍

Thanks so much for your time Joey! To keep up to date with Joey's Pickleball Progress and his hat choices at events, make sure you follow his Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/joeywild.pb/

‍

‍