In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, host Chris Beaumont speaks with Estee Widdershoven, the first Belgian player to be signed to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, a landmark moment for Belgian and European pickleball.
Estee shares her journey from discovering pickleball to reaching the professional ranks, offering insight into the training, mindset, and sacrifices required to compete on the world stage. The conversation explores what her PPA signing means for the growth of pickleball in Belgium and across Europe, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing international players entering the American-dominated professional circuit.
Chris and Estee also discuss the evolving global pathway in pickleball, the rising standard of European competition, and how breakthrough moments like this can inspire the next generation of players across the continent. For listeners following the tour landscape, it is a timely moment to track the wider context around the PPA Tour and the sport’s broader global development.
Whether you follow professional tours, international development, or the future of European pickleball, this episode provides a compelling look at a historic step forward for the sport.
Topics covered
- Estee Widdershoven’s signing with the PPA Tour
- The rise of pickleball in Belgium and Europe
- Training, mindset, and life as an emerging professional
- Global pathways into professional pickleball
Subscribe and listen
Subscribe to the World Pickleball Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms for weekly conversations with the players and leaders shaping pickleball worldwide.
Official tour reference:
Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour
