Introducing the Pro Series...
The Pro Series articles will be a set of 16 articles featuring top pickleball players around the world. Players will receive the same set of questions from me, although not all of the answers will make it into every article - and - you may just see a bonus question or two thrown in from time-to-time!
So, what better way to start this series with a top Canadian player, right?
My first on-court encounter with Ernesto Fajardo was during the 2017 Eastern Canadian Regional Championships. I still remember his commanding presence and fast hands as he took over the majority of the court.
At that point, I’d only been playing for about a year and that event was just my second pickleball tournament ever; my mixed partner and I had yet to play a team with what now is considered to be the standard approach to mixed tournament play.
It was a great experience playing Ernesto, his partner and playing highly competitive games. He, of course, took home the gold that year.
All credit to where credit is due: Ernesto not only crushed that tournament but since then he has put in hard work to rise up in the ranks. He now sits at the top, as the number one player in Canada, making him the perfect fit for this inaugural Pro Series article.
Photo credit: Yeung Photography
Ernesto is based out of Montréal, Québec, he is sponsored by GAMMA Pickleball and Oliver Sports. He uses the GAMMA 505 paddle.
Fajardo’s most recent achievements (2022) include: Canadian National Mixed Champion, Central Canada Triple Champion, and Gamma Classic Mixed Pro Bronze medalist. I asked Ernesto if he would share a bit of his pickleball past, present, and future with our readers. Here’s what he has to say:
Q. How long have you been playing pickleball and how did you enter the world of pickleball?
I was introduced to the sport in 2016. Being a competitive tennis player, it was raining one summer day and we couldn’t play outside. I was reading a newspaper with a friend and saw an advertisement for a pickleball demo and we decided to try it out.
Q. What was your first pro tournament and when?
My first pro tournament was the Gamma Classic in Pittsburgh in 2017. I won bronze in (the) Men's Doubles Open with Justin Stephens.
Q. What was a stand-out moment of that tournament for you?
The stand out moment for me was seeing that I could compete at the highest level in the US.
Q. Who is the most influential person in your game?
Francoise Abel is the most influential person on my game as she helped me transition from tennis to the "real” game of pickleball (dinks, third shot drops).
Q. Do you have a favourite drill? If so, what is it?
My favorite drill is working on hand speed at the kitchen line. You and a drilling partner hit fast and hard volleys to each other while standing as close to the NVZ as possible.
Q. Name your top 3 favourite shots?
My favorite shots are the backhand dink, backhand flip and forehand misdirect.
Q. Do you identify more as a left-side player or right-side player?
I identify more as a left-side player but I am comfortable playing the right side as well.
Q. What’s your favourite pickleball moment to date?
My favourite pickleball moment was winning the 5.0 gold medal at the 2018 US Open with Matthew Kawamoto.
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Photo credit: Michael Gauthier / Pickleball Strokes
Q. What is your favourite tournament format to play in and why?
Double elim(ination) with the potential to play for gold. It is my favourite because every player can have a bad game and pickleball is a game of momentum. This format usually allows the better teams to come out on top in the end.
Q. What does the sport of pickleball need the most in order for it to get to the “next level”
We need more countries to start playing it on a competitive level and younger players as well, as they will be the future of the sport.
Q. Do you have a favourite tournament that you attend?
The GAMMA Classic in Pittsburgh is my favourite tournament! I have played it every year since 2017 except for 2020 and 2021 (COVID).
Q. Do you think pickleball will be an Olympic sport? If so, how many years do you think it will take to become one?
I do think that Pickleball will become an Olympic sport. I think it will happen in 10-14 years; the sport will need to become a lot more present on the international scene.
Q. What’s your favourite piece of advice to give to a beginner?
Focus on mastering the basics. I know a lot of players that add flashy shots to their games without having a solid base. Having a solid base will help you enormously in the long run and increase your capacity to improve.
Q. Can you share with the readers something unique about yourself?
I used to be 100lbs heavier (than now). I studied pre-medicine in college before switching to engineering. I speak 3 languages fluently (Spanish, French, English) and learned Russian in college - I love languages. I have played pickleball in 25 US states.
In 2018, I was also in Florida when Ernesto Fajardo and Matthew Kawamoto took gold in Men’s 5.0.
I didn’t see them play that particular category but I watched them play Kyle Yates and Brian Ashworth in the 19+ gold medal match, where they first had to beat father-son duo Rob Elliot and Joshua Elliot (Rob is the owner and operator of Engage Pickleball).
At that time, Canada did not have one officially rated 5.0 player, however, after that tournament, Fajardo and Kawamoto became the first two 5.0-rated players in the country.
This article was taken from our 'Control the Kitchen' Newsletter, if you're interested in receiving more content like this, please feel free to sign up using the subscribe section located at the bottom left of this page (or underneath the article if you're on mobile), thanks!
