Even the funniest people in the world need a day off. For Trevor Noah, a day off apparently could mean a paddle, a pair of sneakers, and a bit of trash talk. The Emmy-winning South African comedian recently found time between shows in Singapore to play pickleball with local enthusiasts, and by all accounts he made quite the impression.
A Chance Encounter at Singapore Expo
Noah, the former host of The Daily Show, was in town for three performances at the Just For Laughs Singapore comedy festival at The Star Theatre from 3 to 5 November. In between, he made his way to The Sports Arena at Singapore Expo, where he ended up on court with locals, including actress Jaime Teo.
Teo shared the story on Instagram on 5 November. “I definitely didn’t start the day thinking I’ll get to meet and even play a game with him,” she wrote. Noah was a “very encouraging partner,” she added, even though the two of them “got trashed.”
A Serious Player, as Comedians Go
Noah isn’t a casual dabbler, either. He’s an outspoken pickleball enthusiast, and he’s rated 3.9 on DUPR, the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating platform, which puts him above the average recreational player.
It seems he also planned ahead. A local coach, who didn’t want to be named, told AsiaOne that Noah had reached out before the trip to set up private matches with local players.
Eddie Ong, another coach who was invited to play, posted on Instagram about “two days of fun rallies and trash talking on court with the one and only Trevor Noah.”
Trevor Noah and His “Surprisingly Quick Hands”
For local player Joshua Seow, the match was a highlight. “We had a great match going back and forth,” he told CNA Lifestyle. “He has surprisingly quick hands, killing us with his counters.”
Seow was also touched by how kind Noah was. After he and several friends couldn’t get tickets to the comedian’s final show, which sold out quickly, Noah offered them tickets himself.
Pickleball Makes It into the Set
Of course, a comedian can’t have an experience like that without using it. According to an AsiaOne reader, Noah referenced the pickleball games in his 5 November set, joking that he was drenched in sweat because the air-conditioning hadn’t been switched on yet. It was, he said, “too early.”
He also joked about being recognised for who he is in Singapore, after spending much of his time in Hong Kong being mistaken for Canadian singer The Weeknd.
What’s Next
Trevor Noah is on an Asia tour, which took him to Hong Kong in late October before the Singapore festival. His next stop is Kuala Lumpur, where he makes his debut performance on 9 and 10 November. Malaysian pickleball players might want to keep their paddles handy, just in case.
It’s a nice reminder of why so many busy people take up the sport. A hectic schedule, a hot room, and a few good rallies with friendly strangers can be the best kind of reset.
