From rackets to paddles: Philippine tennis names explain the switch to pickleball
Short answer: Ruben Gonzales, Johnny Arcilla and the Patrimonio sisters told ABS-CBN what transfers from tennis to the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour, and what does not.
Pickleball keeps pulling in athletes from other sports, and in the Philippines some of the country's best-known tennis players are now playing on the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT). ABS-CBN News reported on October 20, 2026 that former tennis players Ruben Gonzales and Johnny Arcilla, along with sisters Tin and Clarice Patrimonio, are among the athletes competing on the tour. Their comments describe what transfers from tennis and what does not.
Who switched
Gonzales plays for the Parañaque Titans, the champions of both Leg 1 and Leg 2 of the MPPT's current season. Arcilla was the Philippines' number one tennis player for 15 years. The Patrimonio sisters are also long-established names in Philippine tennis. All four are now competing in pickleball, according to the ABS-CBN report.
The tour itself has been growing. Dink Feed covered the MPPT's second leg in Parañaque earlier this month, where the Titans took another title and tennis converts were already part of the story. The new ABS-CBN piece goes deeper into why they crossed over and how hard the change has been.
An easier entry, not a free pass
Gonzales said singles is the easier transition for a tennis player, but doubles is very different. "So, I've had to change a lot of things tactically and technically to play this sport, but it's been a really fun challenge so far," he told ABS-CBN.
He was careful not to call the switch simple. "It's an easier entry point, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to be really good at pickleball if you play tennis," he said. "I definitely feel like there's a learning curve that's a little bit misunderstood." The main differences, he said, are the equipment and the court: a paddle without strings, a different ball, and a smaller playing area.
Gonzales also said he plans to stay in the sport after the tour. "I have commitments playing pickleball," he said. "I would like to play Davis Cup, but other than that, I'm very focused on pickleball too."
The kitchen line problem
Clarice Patrimonio gave the most concrete example of an old habit causing trouble. She said she keeps stepping on the kitchen line and has had to train herself out of it, telling ABS-CBN she constantly reminds herself not to step into the kitchen. Her sister Tin acknowledged that being a former tennis player has its advantages, but Clarice's point is the other side: habits built over years do not disappear because the court got smaller.
The non-volley zone is one of the largest adjustments for racket-sport athletes. Tennis rewards moving forward and taking the ball early at the net. Pickleball punishes a volley touched while standing in the kitchen, so the instinct to close in has to be re-learned as a stop at the line.
Arcilla: a maestro starts again
Arcilla described himself as being at a turning point. "My path has changed now," he said. "In tennis, I've been there for a long time. They call me a maestro… Now, I'm going to try pickleball." He said age is not a barrier: even in your 40s, you can still compete, and with pickleball getting hype, he grabbed the opportunity.
A Vietnam-based paddle brand has named a paddle after him. Called "The Maestro," it carries his name and signature and is a main weapon on tour, according to the report. Arcilla was blunt about the level: "Here in pickleball, it's really tough. It's really tough."
He credited tennis for the mentality the new sport demands. Long matches build patience, he said, and players used to spending four hours on court can handle pickleball's demands.
Why the crossover matters
The MPPT's tennis recruits are a sign of where the sport is in the Philippines. A national tour needs recognizable athletes to draw crowds and coverage, and tennis supplies players with racket skills, footwork and a competitive base. The players' own message, though, is that the crossover is a head start, not a crown. Doubles tactics, the kitchen rule and the different ball all punish assumptions.
For club players who come from tennis, the lesson is the same one Gonzales and the Patrimonio sisters describe. Expect the entry to feel easy, expect the learning curve to be real, and watch your feet at the kitchen line. For the tour, having the country's former number one commit to the sport in his 40s is the kind of endorsement money cannot buy.
The next test is results. Gonzales already has two leg titles with the Titans, and the Patrimonio sisters and Arcilla are still finding their footing. If tennis converts keep winning, more will follow, and the MPPT's pitch to athletes from other sports gets easier with every headline. ABS-CBN's report is the primary source for the quotes in this story; Dink Feed has not independently interviewed the players.
Sources
Sources checked 20 Oct 2026. Header image is illustrative, not a photo of the events described.
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