Who’s Stealing the Show at MLP 2026? Part 2: CJ Klinger
And no… we’re not talking about the typical young guy trying to scream for attention.
Actually, it’s the opposite.
CJ Klinger really does look like a shy kid.
You can see it in his gestures.
You can see it sitting on the bench with his teammates.
You can see it in certain looks.
Certain quiet moments.
At times he even looks nervous.
But honestly… it doesn’t feel like fear.
It feels like anxiety.
And that makes sense.
The guy is only 18 years old and already standing face to face with monsters who’ve been competing at the highest level for years.
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But there he is.
Competing.
Taking risks.
Bringing energy to every single point like he’s been living in this stage forever.
And people should pay attention to that.
Because once he gains a little more confidence… this kid is going to win over a lot of fans.
He’s not afraid of fast pace.
He’s not afraid to speed things up.
He’s not afraid to fail trying something big.
And people connect with that immediately.
You can also feel the connection he has with his teammates.
The celebrations feel real.
The energy feels real.
The chemistry is there.
And when an entire team starts believing in a player that young… usually it’s because they see something special every day.
CJ today represents a lot for younger players who are starting to look at pickleball differently.
More aggressive.
More modern.
More electric.
His performance during this first event was magnificent.
And don’t get fooled.
Because yes… outside the court he looks like a shy kid.
But inside it… he’s lethal.
And no… we’re not talking about the typical young guy trying to scream for attention.
Actually, it’s the opposite.
CJ Klinger really does look like a shy kid.
You can see it in his gestures.
You can see it sitting on the bench with his teammates.
You can see it in certain looks.
Certain quiet moments.
At times he even looks nervous.
But honestly… it doesn’t feel like fear.
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It feels like anxiety.
And that makes sense.
The guy is only 18 years old and already standing face to face with monsters who’ve been competing at the highest level for years.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
But there he is.
Competing.
Taking risks.
Bringing energy to every single point like he’s been living in this stage forever.
And people should pay attention to that.
Because once he gains a little more confidence… this kid is going to win over a lot of fans.
He’s not afraid of fast pace.
He’s not afraid to speed things up.
He’s not afraid to fail trying something big.
And people connect with that immediately.
You can also feel the connection he has with his teammates.
The celebrations feel real.
The energy feels real.
The chemistry is there.
And when an entire team starts believing in a player that young… usually it’s because they see something special every day.
CJ today represents a lot for younger players who are starting to look at pickleball differently.
More aggressive.
More modern.
More electric.
His performance during this first event was magnificent.
And don’t get fooled.
Because yes… outside the court he looks like a shy kid.
But inside it… he’s lethal.
