Five Things You Wish You Knew Before Playing Your First Tournament

Phuong Le, aka The Asian Test Kitchen (@theasiantestkitchen) is a Vietnamese-American home chef and content creator based in Plano, Texas. 

She’s built a loyal audience of about 54,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares bite-sized cooking videos, step-by-step recipes, and virtual tours of Asian grocery staples.

With a focus on approachable Asian and Vietnamese dishes, Phuong’s warmth and clarity shine through her content - making her a go-to guide for those curious to explore these cuisines. Her growing YouTube presence reinforces that her mission is to inspire morepeople to keep their cultural heritage alive in the kitchen. 

Image via Instagram

Despite being smaller than mega influencers, she stands out for her authentic, educational, and relatable content aimed at everyday home cooks. She’s carving a niche through consistency, cultural storytelling, and practical guidance - definitely worth following if you’re into easy Asian cooking with a personal touch.

Phuong Le shared and indicated 5 things she wished she knew before playing in her first pickleball tournament, which is great for anyone stepping into competitive play for the first time. 

1. Nerves Hit Harder Than Expected

Even if you're confident in reccreational play, tournament pressure is real. Adrenaline can throw off your timing, decision-making, and even your grip strength. 

Tip: Simulate pressure in practice-set up competitive round robins with people watching to get used to nerves.

2. Warm-Up Time Is Limited (or Non-existent)

You might not get much court time before your match starts.

Tip: Have a set 2-minute warm-up routine that gets the heart pumping, and practice serves and returns too.

3. Hydration and Snacks Matter More Than You Think

Tournaments are long. You might play multiple matches in a row or have hours between them.

Energy can crash quickly.

Tip: Bring electrolytes, protein snacks, bananas, and a big water bottle.

Image via Instagram

4. Your energy and your partner's energy matters

You will make mistakes, and things can easily spiral.

Tip: Choose your partner wisely. If your partner takes the game too seriously and tends to get frustrated easily, this can affect your game.

Have something you say or do for yourself to reset and get back into the game after a series of mistakes.

5. Know your skill level

Most teams that win 3.0 tournaments are closer to a 3.5. It's not really for true beginners, and if you start competing tournaments too early, it can really ruin your DUPR rating. 

Tip: If you're new, try out some leagues before tournaments! Or try to find 2.5 divisions. Also understand there will always be sandbaggers in every division. There's not much you can do about people playing down. Expect it and don't let it affect you mentally.

Lastly, remember to have fun and enjoy the moment!

Did she miss anything else to be added on to the list?