JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Like many U.S. Open athletes, Rex Thais got his start practicing in his backyard playing pickleball games back-to-back with his family.
“I could just hit a ball for three hours and not get bored,” he said.
What started as a new hobby for Rex just two years ago has transformed into his professional sports career.
His next match– the U.S. Open.
“There’s a lottery draw and we got into two divisions, 5-O Men's doubles and 5-O mixed doubles,” Rex Thais added.
Now he's making his U.S Open debut at just 13 years old.
His dad, Ricky Thais, says he’s excited to watch this international tournament launch his son’s sports career.
“When I decided to build a court, I did it out of necessity for us to play, we had no intentions of Rex to be pro one day,” Ricky Thais explained.
The game that started in their backyard is bringing the Thais family overseas.
The exposure from the U.S. Open is allowing the Thais family to go back home to Vietnam.
Sharing how the fastest growing sport in the U.S. is also becoming a member of their family.
“Being able to show pickleball to a third world country is quite amazing because you get to bring this sport from America to where it’s not really brought up around the rest of the world,” Ritchie Thais, Rex’s brother, added.
While Rex’s family sits courtside at every tournament, his favorite moments are when they pick up a paddle.
“When I get to train with my brothers every once in a while, when I do, it’s just very competitive since they’re my brothers and we just practice and we get better together,” Rex Thais said.