High Highs, Low Lows

Hey y’all, Jack here.

This is how I would sum up the last few weeks in one sentence.

Very high highs. Very low lows.

And to be honest, you can't have one without the other. This stretch really made me feel that, not just understand it.

Let's start with the good things, because Vietnam was a great place!!

Vietnam Was Electric

Coming into Vietnam I felt amazing!!

The Asia swing has been really great so far going from Malaysia to Japan and then into Vietnam for the D-Joy tournament.. If you have never heard of D-Joy before just know this. They run some of the best tournaments in the world!

They take care of everything down to the smallest thing. The facilities are great, everything runs smoothly and the competition is very strong. You can really feel how real it is. Their tour is independent and their academy is one of the best I have ever seen. They are helping to develop the next generation of players in Asia!

A lot of people showed up ready to play. There were players everywhere you looked. Some of the players from America, mixed in with players from other countries, and some of Vietnam’s best players. The place itself was also very impressive! The air was humid, which was not what I expected. I learned quickly that I need to pack extra clothes because I was not ready for it haha!

Once we started playing things started to go well!

Richard and I won the gold medal in mens doubles. The finals were crazy. We were playing against Ryan Fu and Quang Duong. Since Quang is from Vietnam everyone in the crowd was on his side, and I mean EVERYONE!

At first it takes some time to get used to playing in a place where you're not the favorite.. but as you play more games in tough places you start to enjoy it. You are not always going to be the one the crowd is cheering for. Sometimes you are the outsider.. There is always something really cool about playing against a whole crowd!

Our first match did not go well we lost 11-3. Couldn’t control the ball. I did not feel settled at all.. Then something changed and we started to play much better. We won the two games 11-2 and 11-0. Richard played some of the BEST pickleball I have ever seen him play. It was amazing. In mixed doubles I played with Sofia and we also won the gold medal! We are still getting to know each other as partners, but we played really well together and won the finals!

It is funny how winning feels when you are far from home in a place that is so different. When strangers start cheering for you it feels really great and humbling. These moments are hard to put into words.

When I was not playing, Vietnam was a movie! I was staying with Richard and Zach and we were always on the move. Riding bikes through the streets, trying foods and exploring together. I want to thank Andy and everyone at D-Joy for making everything go smoothly.

I will definitely be going back!

From Vietnam Straight to Seattle

After that things started to shift. I flew out of Vietnam and landed in Seattle just in time for the first U.S. APP event of the year. Then everything started shifting sideways.

The funny thing is, I have grown to really like the new APP setup a lot. Spreading out the matches more like a progressive creates real momentum going into Sunday. The whole flow just feels better now it is less rushed. There is more intensity.. To be honest this rhythm gives each match weight. If they keep using this approach that would be really solid.

Seattle was not easy on me. The city was really tough. The weather was cold and the ball was much faster. It is just not my style. I like to play in a methodical way. I like to have a feel for the game and I like to work points with intention.. In those conditions I just never found my rhythm.

At the end of the day that is no excuse. You always have to adapt to the conditions.

In mens doubles Richard and I lost in games in the quarterfinals. That loss hurt us. We had not lost together in some time and it felt bad to lose again. It is hard to explain. It was one of those losses that just stays with you. Not in a bad way, but in a way that wakes you up and makes you think. In doubles Sofia and I made it to the semifinals but we lost to a really strong team. They played better than us that day.

The biggest thing for me was that I was not nervous. I did not feel nervous all. I just did not have my feel for the game. I could not feel the ball, I could not find my rhythm and nothing really clicked the way it usually does.

I played below my usual standard.. I felt every second of it.

The Part No One talks about

That loss was really tough for me.

It was not just because I lost. Because I know what I am capable of. I take a lot of pride in being consistent. This weekend I just fell apart completely. At the same time I think this is what happens when you are trying to achieve something real.

Winning is great, but it can hide problems. Losing makes everything clear. It makes you look at what you need to change.I left Seattle with a list of things I need to work on. Little things, adjustments, things that will help me in the long run.

One thing I am trying now is choking up on my paddle to get more control. A lot of players do this and it seems like it could be helpful. Think: Gabe, Hayden, Fed.

This is the part that really matters. You do not find out how good you can be on your days. You find out when things are not going well.

Reset And What’s Next

I have a week to start fresh now.

I am going to Augusta for the Masters, which I am extremely excited for! It is going to be an awesome experience. After that, I will get ready for the US Open. I will play mens with Richard and mixed with Roos, who was my partner in Malaysia. Really looking forward to that.

This stretch reminded me why I love playing the sport.

When I win it feels great. When I lose it helps me stay grounded.

I need both the wins and the losses.

Keeping Up With Me Off the Court

I want to talk about the content I have been working on because it has been a focus for me lately!

I have been spending a lot time on my socials, not just posting the best parts but really trying to show what my whole journey actually looks like. This includes the travel, the training, the things that happen behind the scenes and to be honest some of the things that happen too!

On YouTube I have been trying a lot of things. I am trying to find a balance between making videos that're fun to watch and ones that actually help people get better at things. Some REALLY cool things come up!!

That’s a Wrap

If you made it this far, I appreciate you.

I wanted to be real about this one. Not every week is going to be perfect, and that is part of the journey.

Seattle, thank you for the lesson.

See y’all next week,
Jack Munro