2 avril 2024 – 08:44
He will participate in the US OPEN in Florida
A big challenge awaits Martin Côté in pickleball
By: Stéphane Fortier
A Sainte-Annois, undoubtedly one of the best pickleball players in Canada, will participate in the 2024 Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships from April 13 to 20 in Naples, Florida, a very competitive tournament.
Indeed, Martin Côté, with a fairly impressive track record in this sport, will have quite a challenge to take on. “We are talking here about 5,000 amateur and professional pickleball players of all ages and levels, coming from the 50 states and nearly 30 different countries,” Martin Côté tells us. No less than 5,000 players will take part, but there are 8,000 who have applied to participate,” he hastens to add.
This tournament in the City of Naples, Florida, therefore welcomes a record number of players with a professional purse of $150,000. Known as the “World’s Greatest Pickleball Party,” it will bring together as many as 40,000 spectators who will create an electric atmosphere at East Naples Community Park, the largest permanent pickleball facility in the world with 64 courts.
Snowshoe lover
Martin Côté started pickleball seven years ago, as he was a fan of racket sports, particularly tennis, table tennis and badminton. And he quickly climbed the ranks since he is now classified in category 5.0, or professional.
Going through national and international junior table tennis competitions, he then shone in badminton and tennis. He grew up with a racket in his hands and spent his life competing in these three disciplines. “It was my tennis partner, Hélène Dubé, Canadian badminton champion, who introduced me to pickleball and I was immediately hooked,” explains Martin Côté.
In 2019, he participated in his first racketlon in Drummondville which unifies four racket sports: tennis, badminton, table tennis and squash. Faced with the absence of a squash court in Drummondville, the organizers changed to pickleball. It was at this time that he won three gold medals in singles and doubles.
The Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel resident participated brilliantly in the National Pickleball Championship in 2022, winning several medals. This tournament brought together more than 950 players from across Canada. In particular, he won a first singles medal for a player from Quebec in the senior open category (50 years and over), a silver medal.
Most recently, in February, in Naples, he finished third in singles. “I lost extra,” he explains.
But recounting all his exploits would be too tedious. Let’s just remember that during the weekend of March 23 and 24, in Miami, Martin Côté finished 16th out of 30 teams in men’s doubles with his partner Brian Lind. “In singles, I lost in the semi-final, missing the bronze medal by a hair (15-13),” he relates.
What makes Martin Côté strong? “Drop shots. I can make it so that once the ball is hit, it literally dies and falls to the ground. The backhand is also one of my strengths. In return, I have to improve my cut balls at the back of the field,” Martin Côté hastens to add.
The next step? “I will return to Quebec after the tournament, but I would like to participate in tournaments in Europe such as Italy and Spain,” wishes the one who plays pickleball every day.
Finally, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. A recent study indicated that more than 36 million people played the sport in the past year. Information about the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships is available at www.USOPENPickleball.com. You can follow the event on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2024-04-02 12:49:53
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