Dive in and get to know the newest member of the Miami Pickleball Club (MPC), Noe Khlif!
All the way from France, Noe recounts his journey from discovering the sport in a Chicago gym to pursuing a professional career. Initially attracted to pickleball's social vibe, Noe has become competitive, participating in tournaments and making strides in his career, including being drafted into Major League Pickleball (MLP).
Balancing a full-time job as an auditor, Noe looks forward to focusing solely on pickleball. He shares memorable experiences, admires tennis legend Rafael Nadal, discusses his training, and aspires to win bigger titles soon in his emerging pickleball career. Excited about the sport's growth, Noe is ready and eager to shape his future in pickleball!
Find out more about Noe on this Q&A:
How and where did you find pickleball?
I discovered pickleball at my local gym when I was living in Chicago. I saw people playing indoors on a basketball court and I was like " What the hell is this?". I tried it and loved it!
How has it changed your life?
At first I was just playing for fun. Then I was missing competing so I decided to start playing a couple tournaments. I was doing well and the sport started exploding so I became interested in trying to play the professional circuit. Now I can't imagine my life without pickleball whether with friends for fun or competitively. Fun Fact I also met my girlfriend at a pickleball tournament!
What is your favorite memory from your career so far?
Utah PPA was a great memory. I was sick and almost didnt play the tournament but I ended up beating Dylan Frazier and Jay Devilier making the quarterfinals. I also made the quarterfinals in doubles and played the Johns brothers on Center Court for the first time so it was pretty cool! I was also very excited when I got drafted by Miami for MLP. Finally, my girlfriend and I qualified for Mixed Pro Main Draw in our first PPA together!
What motivated you to become a pro pickleball player?
I love competing and the atmosphere in tournaments. I also enjoy traveling and discovering new places. Ideally I would love to make a living out of it.
What has been the most fun about joining Major League Pickleball? What has been a challenge?
Joining Major League Pickleball was very exciting. It's fun to compete as a team against the best players out there. Getting used to the format and atmosphere was the most challenging I would say.
What athlete or person inspires you the most?
My idol growing up was Rafael Nadal. I love the way he competes and fight on every point. He is one of the toughest athlete out there mentally and physically.
What does your current training regimen look like?
I have a full time job as an Auditor at Deloitte right now so I havent been able to train as much as I can unfortunately. I usually hit the gym early in the morning before work and try to drill after work. I will go full time pickleball starting July 20th so I am excited about the idea to be able to train more.
What is your greatest accomplishment in sports so far?
Won the French National Championship (tennis) in singles when I was 14 and in doubles when I was 12 and 16. Also won a Big Ten title playing for the University of Illinois.
What do you do outside of pickleball?
I have a full time Job as an Auditor at Deloitte. I also love playing golf whenever I have time and watching sport or tv shows.
What is your current DUPR?
Currently it is 6.333 in Doubles and 6.579 in Singles.
What is the biggest title you would like to achieve in your pickleball career?
Win gold medals in Singles and Doubles on different pro tour events, and of course Win MLP.
What did you feel like getting drafted to play for MPC?
I was very excited when I got the news I got drafted. That was one of my goal this season and I’m very happy to have the opportunity to compete as part of an MLP team.
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How was the first MLP event of the season for you in terms of nerves, atmosphere, and team chemistry?
I really enjoyed my first MLP event. We had some really close matches which was very exciting. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the new format and different atmosphere, but thankfully I have an amazing team that helped me with this transition and I feel better and better with every match I play.
How does the MLP format feel compared to playing PPA's or other non-team events?
MLP format makes things very interesting because anything can happen. Every point matters and each game is usually very close, so you have to be all-in from the first point to the last point. I like competing as part of a team, because you are playing for something bigger than yourself. It gives additional motivation.
What are your team and personal goals for this season?
Our goal as a team is to finish on top of the Challenger standings and get promoted to Premier. My personal goal is to help the team achieve its goal and to give myself the opportunity to compete in the premier league next year.
Anything else you want to add?
It's good to see pickleball growing the way it has been over the last couple of years, allowing professional players to focus full-time on their pickleball career. I can't wait to see how the sport keeps growing and evolving over the next years. It's really exciting!
Follow Noe's pickleball journey together with Miami PC on his Instagram!
