Louis Laville joins the World Pickleball Podcast to discuss his move to Australia, winning MLP Australia, competing in India’s World Pickleball League and the changing standard of European pickleball.
- Laville explains how Australia changed the tactical shape of his game
- The episode covers MLP Australia, the World Pickleball League and Europe’s improving pro scene
- Laville also discusses sponsorship, prize money and the reality of playing pickleball full-time outside the USA
Louis Laville believes European pickleball is entering a very different phase.
Speaking on the latest episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, the former GPA world number one reflected on a whirlwind period that included moving to Australia to play pickleball full-time, winning MLP Australia with Bondi Pickleball Club, competing in India’s World Pickleball League and returning to Europe as one of the continent’s leading players.
How Australia Changed Laville’s Game
The seven-time European champion said his year in Australia forced him to adjust tactically, particularly around speed-ups, countering and first-match readiness.
“Australia was completely different tactically,” Laville explained. “If you hit a bad dink, it was getting punished immediately.”
He described how Australian players were more willing to speed balls up off the bounce, not always to win the point outright, but to create the next ball. That pattern, he said, is something he has now brought back into his own game.
Laville recently returned to the European circuit with double gold in Stockholm and believes the standard across the continent is improving quickly through tours such as the RTA and increased international competition.
MLP Australia, India And A Global Pickleball Education
The episode also goes deep on Laville’s time in team pickleball.
He discusses being drafted in Australia, leaving his UK job to pursue the sport full-time and eventually winning MLP Australia with Bondi Pickleball Club.
Laville also reflects on the atmosphere of India’s World Pickleball League, describing one semi-final as “one of the best pickleball evenings” of his career due to the noise, pressure and crowd inside the arena.
For anyone following the international side of the sport, the conversation gives a clear view of how the game is developing across Australia, India, Europe and the wider global pickleball scene.
If you’re following how the global game is shifting week by week, the World Pickleball Report breaks this down every day in our morning briefing.
The Reality Of Playing Pickleball Full-Time
One of the most revealing sections of the interview comes when Laville discusses the financial side of professional pickleball outside the United States.
He is clear that sponsorship support has been essential to making his playing career sustainable, particularly when travel, accommodation and tournament entry fees are considered.
Laville also explains why prize money alone is rarely enough for players to rely on, especially in Europe, where the professional infrastructure is still developing.
What Comes Next For Laville
Laville is now targeting a full European season, more APP and GPA events, and a push toward 100 professional gold medals.
He also speaks openly about the growth of the UK’s Premier Pickleball League, the importance of giving domestic players regular high-level competition, and why Europe may develop more slowly than some markets but perhaps more sustainably.
For anyone interested in where European pickleball is heading, and what life actually looks like for a global touring pro outside the American system, this is one of the most revealing conversations yet on the World Pickleball Podcast.
Listen to the full Louis Laville episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.
For a clearer view of where the sport is heading each month, you can download the latest free issue of World Pickleball Magazine.
Further Reading
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Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.