‍Home town: Whenuapai, Auckland NZ

Playing Hand: Right Handed

Sponsors: Selkirk, Skechers NZ, Six Zero Pickleball, Lateral Leadership Limited, Pickleball Stuff New Zealand

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Hi Matt, we’re excited to chat to you today about all things Pickleball! To start us off; as captain of the New Zealand Hustle, what do you find most rewarding about leading your team?

Honestly, I don't consider myself the leader of the team. I consider each of my team to be as much of a leader as each other, including me. So the rewarding part for me comes down to the chemistry we have as a team both on and off the court. Organising team AirBnB's, team training and hearing everyone's excitement is the best part of the team environment for me. The results build off strong foundations. One thing I am very proud of though, is our season two uniforms and how slick they are going to look and how durable the printing is. Meaning each of the NZ Hustle will have uniforms that can last them a lifetime.

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It's wonderful to hear about the strong team chemistry and your pride in the uniforms and their connection to your home. I think I speak for everyone when I say how excited we all are to see them! Speaking of the sport itself, what do you think sets pickleball apart from other sports, and why do you love playing it?

Easy. Inclusiveness & fun. Name another sport that you can see kids, teens, adults, and elderly all on the same court enjoying themselves? No matter the race, ethnicity, size, gender, political views, or ability - everyone loves it. People consider the sport an addiction, but the drug is having fun!

Inclusiveness and fun are certainly strong aspects and something a lot of people look for in a sport. For young people who are interested in getting into pickleball competitively, what advice would you give them?

Do it! Everyone who plays now wishes they started earlier without hesitating at the silly name or the stereotype about it being for "old people.

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That's great advice! Looking ahead, what are your plans for the remainder of 2024 and leading into 2025?

I'm looking forward to flipping last season's results around in season two and am excited to have a majority Queensland-based team to train with, as I'm moving to Queensland myself next week! I am also the captain for the New Zealand open team who are attending the Pickleball World Cup in Peru this October. I'm excited for that adventure and also very fortunate that both myself and my wife have been selected in this team to represent our home country together, which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us both. As for 2025, I am excited to continue being a father to my two beautiful kids, a loving and present husband, and continue working my day job full-time to ensure we can continue along our path to building our first home next year. If I'm fortunate enough to return to MLPA next year, then I'm excited to continue living that dream too. We all know there are no guarantees for anything in life, so I'm just looking ahead to the known. I have MLPA season 2 and the Pickleball World Cup to close this year out and will continue doing the work to allow amazing opportunities for me and my family again next year.

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Your commitment to team unity and your excitement for the future of pickleball are truly inspiring, Matt. Your leadership and enthusiasm as captain of the New Zealand Hustle are evident in your plans to compete on both national and international stages. We wish you the best of luck in Season 2 of MLPA and at the Pickleball World Cup in Peru!

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To keep up to date with Matt and all things pickleball make sure you follow his Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/mattcarterpickleball/

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