#26 - Lulu Stanciu: Meet the #1 Romanian Pickleball Player

In this week’s Balls Deep Podcast, we sit down with Luana “Lulu” Stanciu, the #1 Romanian women’s pickleball player, whose journey started in college tennis and led her into the U.S. pickleball sceneLulu breaks down how her tennis background shaped her game, what translated immediately, and what didn’t. We get into the real adjustments required when switching from tennis to pickleball, from touch and feel to decision-making speed and positioning. She also shares what it’s like building a name for yourself in a new sport while competing against players who have been immersed in pickleball for yearsThis episode goes deeper than surface-level advice. We talk about training structure, mindset shifts, and how to actually improve once you hit that intermediate plateau. Whether you’re a former tennis player or someone trying to level up your pickleball game, there’s a lot to take away hereIf you’ve ever wondered how transferable tennis really is or what it takes to compete at a higher level in pickleball, this conversation gives you a clear, honest lookTopics include transitioning from tennis to pickleball, adapting technique and strategy, competing in the U.S., and building consistency at a higher level