The way Zane Navratil describes it is simple.
No, not his game. That’s not what he’s talking about. There’s nothing simple about that. On the court, Navratil displays a wild combination of energy, manic footwork, and fast-twitch muscle movement like his body is quickly absorbing a double-shot of espresso.
0–0-2 for Navratil is the start of a Zumba class with a pickleball paddle, constant dancing around the Kitchen line, like he’s trying to burn calories and get to 10,000 steps so his Apple Watch will send him a happy buzz of notification.
Just watching Navratil burns more calories than your gym workout. It’s exhausting.
Then there’s that simplicity he’s talking about.
“I just show up and talk,” he said. “People actually listen to what I have to say for some reason.”
Well, it only makes sense. People have always noticed how Navratil plays, so being a co-host on The Dink’s popular show “Picklepod” is a natural fit for Navratil who has never been averse to saying what’s on his mind – from the court to Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter.
“As long as people keep listening, I’ll keep talking,” Navratil said.
Chances are they will, especially if Navratil continues to show up on the medal stand like he did Thursday at the Selkirk Red Rock Open in St. George, Utah. Navratil and partner Susannah Barr earned their first PPA Tour medal together, earning bronze in the mixed doubles bracket, which included a victory over the top-seeded team as well as the second-seeded team.
It was the best showing of the season for Navratil on the PPA Tour.
“Without a doubt, I’m playing my best,” Navratil said. “But I think everyone out here is playing their best pickleball. It’s tough to gauge because you’re comparing yourself to others. I think the entire game is getting better.”
Thursday, alongside Barr, the duo entered the tournament as the No. 17 seeded team and immediately got a win against the 16 seed – Tyler Loong and Jillian Braverman. That win earned Navratil and Barr a shot at the top-seeded team of Tyson McGuffin and Catherine Parenteau and three games later, the two were into the quarterfinals after a massive win. They followed this up with another upset, topping the No. 8 seed Travis Rettenmaier and Lea Jansen.
After losing game one to Anna Bright and James Ignatowich, who made up the No. 4 seeded team, Navratil and Barr rallied for a game-two win and then led 6-4 in the third game, but didn’t manage to close it. However, they did close in the bronze medal match, falling in the first game before earning the next two – a 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 clincher over No. 2 seeds Andrea Koop and Riley Newman.
“I don’t think it’s a breakthrough,” Navratil said of the bronze winning showing. “I want to win one [a title] and then we’ll call it a breakthrough.”
However, as wild and unpredictable as Navratil is on the court, he channels some of that same energy into his social media. He’s been on ESPN’s SportsCenter, albeit the business end of a swing and a miss, then on the other side of a Jay Devilliers highlight where Devilliers went around the post and into the crowd as Navratil stood by. Navratil is also active on Instagram where he promotes his fiance as well as his dog.
Meanwhile, he’s all over the Picklepod, one of the most-popular podcasts in the game, telling stories and not holding back on his opinions.
“The studio we record is walking distance from my apartment in Austin,” Navratil said. The Dink has a large audience, and it’s very little work for me. I just show up and talk, and it seems to work out just fine.”
Now he’s trying to do the same with his game – you know, just show up and see if it works out.
“I’ve always known I belonged out here,” he said. “I wouldn’t have signed a PPA contract if I didn’t think I could play here.”
Championship Saturday in mixed doubles will be No. 3 seeds AJ Koller and Jessie Irvine against Bright and Ignatowich. Parenteau and McGuffin went on to win fifth place in the backdraw. Friday in Utah will be gender doubles action.
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