Bermuda's Top Female Player Imani Phillips to Train with World #1 Senior Pro Lee Whitwell
What's the Score?
Bermuda's leading female pickleball player, Imani Phillips, is set to train with Lee Whitwell, the world's top-ranked senior women's professional. This significant opportunity arose after the two met in Bermuda in March. Phillips plans to travel to Orlando in early May to begin working with Whitwell as she aims to elevate her game and break into the professional circuit.
Hit it deeper!
The collaboration between Imani Phillips and Lee Whitwell is generating excitement in Bermuda's pickleball community. Phillips, recognised as Bermuda’s top female player, had the chance to meet Whitwell when the Florida-based Gibraltarian visited Bermuda in March. Whitwell holds the prestigious position of being the world’s No. 1 senior women's professional pickleball player. The meeting proved productive, leading to plans for Phillips to travel to Orlando at the beginning of May to join forces and further develop her skills. Phillips is currently focused on trying to break into the professional circuit, describing pickleball as one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. She expressed confidence in Whitwell's ability to improve her game, noting their connection and understanding during their initial meeting. Phillips highlighted that her game has "improved so much already" and believes spending time with coaches like Whitwell "just takes it to a whole new level".
Phillips, who transitioned to pickleball from competitive tennis, noted that working with Whitwell will help her develop footwork and mobility specific to pickleball, rather than relying on movements adapted from tennis. She shared that Whitwell, who also played professional doubles on the tennis tour, understands her background and can explain concepts in a way she can easily grasp. Phillips paid a high compliment to Whitwell's skill, comparing her to Michael Jordan in basketball. She mentioned that Whitwell no longer competes in tournaments herself because her students play in them, suggesting it wouldn't be fair for her to participate.
Imani Phillips comes into this training opportunity following recent success, having won the mixed doubles title with Puerto Rican Carlos Rodriguez at an Association of Pickleball Players tournament in the Cayman Islands in March. The 23-year-old has ambitious goals, stating her biggest aim for the year is to win a pro tournament. She is committed to continuing her current approach of playing tournaments that make sense, meeting people, and striving for results. Phillips feels "blessed" by the results she has achieved so far, seeing each tournament as a step closer and a sign of improvement. Currently, her focus includes training, refocusing, and working on her mobility, which she does after every tournament to prepare for the next. Her aim is to reach a point where she can be "so regimented in training," repeatedly practising hitting the same shot. The upcoming training with the world's top senior pro is expected to be a crucial step in achieving these aspirations.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The planned training between Bermuda's Imani Phillips and world #1 senior pro Lee Whitwell signifies a major development for pickleball in Bermuda. For Phillips, this represents a high-level opportunity to refine her skills under the guidance of one of the sport's elite figures, potentially accelerating her goal of competing and winning on the professional circuit. It also highlights the interconnectedness of the global pickleball community, where connections made during visits can lead to significant player development opportunities. While the sources don't detail the overall state of pickleball in Bermuda, this news indicates that promising players from the island are actively seeking pathways to compete at higher levels. Phillips' journey, transitioning from tennis and seeking pro status, reflects a common path for emerging pickleball talent. The collaboration with a player of Whitwell's calibre underscores the ambition of Bermuda's top player and brings international attention, however focused, to the sport's presence on the island.