Rex Thais Wins Cambodia Mixed Doubles Title, Takes Singles Bronze

Player Rex Thais has recapped his trip to Cambodia for the STMarket International Cup, run with the Cambodia Pickleball Federation, The Commune Pickleball, and Joola as partners. Thais and partner Aline Morales played in the Open Doubles division and won the title against a field of all-male teams. Thais also took bronze on his own in Open Singles.

Prize checks were presented on court to the division winners, visible in the event photos, though the exact currency isn't stated in the post. Thais also says he was interviewed by Cambodian national television about the trip.

A School Visit Alongside the Wins

Thais says the court "wasn't even the best part" of the trip. He and the group visited a rural public school and introduced local children to pickleball, describing the visit as the part of the trip that "really sticks with you," and says he hopes to see the same kids again and meet more in the future.

Thais writes that he went into the trip with "zero expectations," admitting he had assumed Cambodia would be unsafe to visit, and says he "could not have been more wrong." Off the court, he lists a run of experiences arranged around the tournament, riding in a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce, playing "tech ball," barbecues, real recovery time, and what he calls insane food.

He thanks Cambodia Pickleball directly for hosting, saying the trip "changed how I see this whole country," and that he plans to return.

This article is based on social media posts and historical data tracked by Pickle361.