You Can’t Reach the Level If You Don’t Live Inside It

At some point, every ambitious player runs into the same problem. You can only improve so far in the environment you’re in.

For Conor Robertshaw, that moment didn’t come in a final or a loss. It came somewhere in between. Between flights, tournaments, and long stretches of training where the question became unavoidable.

Was he actually moving forward, or just circling the same level?

So he left.

Key Takeaways

New Zealand’s Conor Robertshaw relocated to Australia at 21 to train full-time at Apex — proving that in modern pickleball, where you train determines how far you go.
His early results — including gold in men’s singles at PPA Australia 125 Gold Coast — suggest the move is already paying off.
The next generation of international players will not wait for domestic systems to catch up — they will go where the level is.

Why He Made the Move

At 21, the New Zealander has already done more than most. He has represented his country, captained the national team, and spent the past two years travelling across the world chasing competition.

But travel, as he realised, is not the same as immersion. You can visit the level. You cannot live at it.

Australia offered something New Zealand could not yet consistently provide. Depth. Structure. Daily exposure to stronger players.

If you’re following how the global game is shifting week by week, the World Pickleball Report breaks this down every Wednesday.

The Results Are Coming

His early results in Australia suggest the decision is already paying off. Gold in men’s singles at the PPA Australia 125 Gold Coast event. Bronze in doubles.

More importantly, a growing sense that his game is catching up with his ambition. The changes are not just physical. His game has evolved, shifting from instinctive shot-making to more deliberate construction. More patience. Better selection.

It’s the difference between playing well and winning consistently. And it comes from exposure.

The Structural Gap

For years, New Zealand’s limitation has not been talent, but structure. Facilities, competition density, and pathways have lagged behind more developed regions. That is starting to change, but not quickly enough for players chasing the top tier now.

A Signal for the Next Generation

Robertshaw’s move is not just personal. It’s a signal. The next generation will not wait for their domestic systems to catch up. They will go where the level is. They will train where the pressure is. They will build their careers inside environments that demand more from them.

Pickleball is opening up globally. But the players who move first are the ones who will define what that global game actually looks like.

This article appeared in the April 2026 issue of World Pickleball Magazine.

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