The Redfoo Journey: Moving from music stage to tennis court

From global music stardom to grinding it out on the Futures tour, Redfoo is once again chasing a dream. This time, instead of a microphone in-hand, it's a racquet.

Most know Redfoo as the chart-topping, neon-wearing half of LMFAO, responsible for chart topping hits like “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It.” But before his success in the music world, there was a passion for tennis. Redfoo — born Stefan Kendal Gordy — spent weekends on the court at his father’s house, battling opponents in informal tournaments and falling in love with the game’s solo nature.

“I love tennis,” he says. “I grew up playing juniors. My dad had a court, and we’d run little tournaments on the weekends. I played everything — soccer, basketball, ping pong — but tennis outlasted them all.”

What captivates him most is tennis’s independence — its demand for total accountability.

“It’s the entrepreneur of sports,” Redfoo explains.

That mindset has fueled an unexpected chapter in his life: competing professionally in ITF Futures events, the high-stakes proving ground of pro tennis hopefuls.

Above: Redfoo loving the tennis vibes. Photo courtesy of INTENNSE.

He recently played a tournament in Egypt, battling against young, hungry players grinding it out for ATP points. The experience didn’t discourage him — it ignited him. Redfoo is currently training five hours a day, balancing intense court time with weight training, recovery routines, and and an ultra-strict diet. He’s pushing sleds, refining footwork, and obsessing over video analysis — anything that brings him closer to that elusive first ATP point.

“These guys lose and they’re in the gym that same day,” he recalls. “People come up to me, ‘why don’t you play your age division?’ I said, I don't feel like there's a divide.”

Despite his fame, Redfoo takes no shortcuts. He’s embracing the grind, the humility, and even the harsh reality of early-round exits — because that’s where the learning happens. There's nothing casual about his commitment. To chase pro-level tennis at nearly 50 takes physical discipline, but also the right mindset. Redfoo brings more than just hard work — he brings the wisdom of someone who’s already chased a wild dream once before and came out on top.

It’s no surprise that mindset has become his favorite part of the journey so far. The same mental game that helped him command stages is being channeled into mastering pressure points and staying calm in matches. He’s found parallels between performance anxiety on stage and those tight moments during a Futures event.

“I’ve learned that nervousness is just fear in the future,” he explains. “Negative thoughts about what ‘might’ happen. I beat that in music, and now I’m bringing that to tennis.”

Above: Redfoo with his Timeball partner Ransom Braaten. Photo: Timeball.

And then, of course, there’s the viral factor. It turns out the same internet that once made “Party Rock Anthem” into a worldwide meme is now sharing clips of his forehand. A rally he posted from a pro tournament unexpectedly blew up online.

“I lost the match, like, 1 and 0,” Redfoo admits. “But I posted one point [where I] hit one good inside-out forehand, and it went viral. Stefanos Tsitsipas DMed me out of nowhere like, ‘Congrats on joining the tour.’ That was wild.”

But more than the likes or comments, what’s mattered to Redfoo is the feedback from fans – people inspired not by him winning, but by him simply stepping on court and competing without fear.

“I know ex-college players too nervous to play a UTR event,” he says. “If me getting crushed inspires someone to sign up and face that fear? That’s the biggest win.”

Florida Tennis caught up with Redfoo after his performance at the opening event for the new Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Zephyrhills. He was training at the facility in the Tampa area and spent the weekend with his racquet as a member of Team Tampa in the INTENNSE pro tennis league where he's also on the Advisory Board. Redfoo also co-created Timeball with Ransom Braaten, a fun tennis app.

His journey is unconventional, but that’s nothing new for Redfoo. His music career took off because he bet on himself, took risks, and created something that no one saw coming. He’s applying that same philosophy to tennis. For a man who once had the world shuffling, his steps are now more precise, more focused. Redfoo isn’t chasing nostalgia or headlines. He’s chasing something more meaningful—growth, self-mastery, and one point at a time.

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Written by Florida Tennis Assistant Editor Alex Binstok. Video Interview by Florida Tennis Host and Entertainment Director DJ Mad Linx. Top photo courtesy of INTENNSE.