Since committing to pickleball in 2017, Regina Goldberg has gone on to capture a number of medals and tournament victories, as well as being drafted into Major League Pickleball (MLP) and competing on the PPA Tour. The former pro racquetball player also met her husband through pickleball, with the two now raising a daughter in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Born in Mexico, Goldberg is a player with MLP’s Miami Pickleball Club, competing on the four-person team that is also comprised of Alix Truong, Brendon Long, and Wesley Burrows. She is also the Pickleball Director for Hunters Run Country Club and has obtained her Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certification.
Pickleball wasn’t always in the cards for Goldberg, who cites a chance encounter during one of her stops while competing in racquetball as the launching point for her playing career.
“One of the pro stops that we had, it was in Sarasota and we heard about this U.S. Open,” recalled Goldberg. “We had nothing to do, so my sister and I went to the facility. It was interesting, it was not what it is today, but it definitely planted the seed. At the end of 2017, I started playing and since then I’ve fallen in love with the sport and I haven’t stopped.”
Now competing at pickleball’s highest levels, Goldberg has her sights set on remaining at the top of the competition pyramid and helping to push the sport forward.
“Short-term, I want to stay on the top level, I think that’s what we all want even though there’s so many insane athletes that are coming into the sport,” she added. “Long-term [in my career], I would love to be with one of the big companies helping to grow the sport in the right way, with a different perspective and just take it to that next level that we’re so close to, but we’re still missing something.”
With over half a decade of playing experience under her belt, Goldberg has been at the centre of pickleball through its ups and downs. She advises those who may be on the fence about it to give it a shot before making any judgements.
“In the beginning I did that and it was a mistake,” said Goldberg. “I thought it was just for older people…now people are judging that it’s too easy to play. I would say just go with an open mind, go give it a try. You’re going to meet a lot of friends. Once you feel a part of this community we have, you’re just going to fall in love with it.”
With the well-documented rise in popularity, seemingly daily developments in rule changes and increasingly frequent media coverage, Goldberg voiced her desire to see the values that have shaped pickleball’s mass appeal and growth remain in place.
“Pickleball is growing so fast and in such a big direction at the amateur and professional levels,” she added. “I want everyone to keep pickleball as it is. We’re a community. It is for everyone. It is fun. I want to encourage everyone to keep it that way.”
ABOUT MIAMI PICKLEBALL CLUB
Miami Pickleball Club is a professional sports team that competes in Major League Pickleball. The team made its debut in 2023 and is owned by Naomi Osaka, Patrick Mahomes, Kygo, Nick Kyrgios, Rich Paul, Soichiro Minami and others. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US, and Miami Pickleball Club represents the city in the highest-tier competitive league in professional pickleball. For more information on Miami Pickleball Club, visit themiamipc.com and follow Miami Pickleball Club on Instagram and TikTok.
ABOUT HAUS PICKLEBALL
Haus Pickleball covers the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. Through written articles, interviews, podcasts and more, Haus Pickleball aims to support the growth of the sport in North America and beyond. Stay updated and help us #GrowTheGame by following and subscribing to the Haus Pickleball social channels.
