John Isner is one of the many former pro tennis players who’ve turned to pickleball.

Having graced the court at a few tournaments and recently participated in the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Showdown, Isner clearly has a soft spot for America's fastest-growing sport.

“In the pickleball world, the community here is very strong. The people love the sport so much and they love being out and competing against each other,” he said. “I think that’s what makes this sport so attractive and unique. You have people here from all over the country in community with each other, so it’s incredible.” 

Making the switch from tennis to pickleball seemed relatively easy for Isner at first, but the nuances of the game eventually became a challenge.  

“Coming from tennis, you can pick up the game pretty quickly. But, I don’t like that I can't hit an overhand serve. That was my biggest weapon in tennis and I can’t do that here,” he explained. “You take away my biggest weapon and then I’m automatically not that good of a player. I become an average player without it.”

Isner shared that his pickleball game is still developing.

Right now, he simply can’t finish a point right away like the seasoned pros can.

Fortunately, his good buddy Jack Sock is enjoying success on the 20x44, so he knows the transition from tennis to pickleball can be made effectively over time.

“Jack is incredible, dynamic, and athletic. He has a lot of skills and talent with his hands because he’s so fast and explosive,” praised Isner. “It’s almost like he was made for this game.”

Has he received any valuable pointers from Sock thus far?

“Honestly, he just laughs at me,” confirmed Isner. “But, it’s because we have a good relationship in that way.”

Sock and Isner are truly best buds on and off the court.

Insight into their friendship is available on the Nothing Major podcast, which features the pair, along with Sam Querrey and Stevie Johnson. 

“It’s honestly super cliché when you get four retired athletes from the tennis world starting a podcast. We retired and we’re like, ‘Let’s start a podcast just like everyone else has,’ but we’ve actually had a decent amount of success so far. We have a lot of fun with it,” said Isner. “We may be retired, but we’re still relevant to the game, and getting to know all the players on tour like Taylor Fritz through this podcast has been good. And it’s just a good excuse to get together and talk with the boys.”

Though Isner isn't planning to pursue pickleball full-time like Sock, he definitely has a genuine love for the game.