Even while dealing with a serious lower body injury, Lea Jansen is continuing to compete the only way she knows how: with her heart on her sleeve.

The 34-year-old withdrew from the women’s singles and mixed doubles competitions ahead of this week’s Mojo Energy Pouches Virginia Beach Open due to a broken patella in her left leg, but she is still competing in women’s doubles alongside Kate Fahey.

According to a report from The Dink’s Erik Tice, Jansen played on the injured leg for the entire Major League Pickleball season this summer.

The 7-time PPA gold medalist, however, is playing through the pain on the east coast.

After her and Fahey’s 11-2, 11-4 victory over Daria Walczak and Alex Walker on Thursday, Jansen was asked why she’s still giving it a go this week.

“Really the reason why I showed up was number one, that I’m playing with Kate,” she shared. “There are a lot of things unknown in my career right now, so I’m playing in a lot of pain by myself, but if this is the last time I go out, I’d like to do it with Kate.”

It’s a response that’s demonstrative of the grit that has defined Jansen’s career since her first tournament and that will continue to do so until she hangs up her paddle.

Jansen is expecting to miss the next three months after this tournament and has pulled out of every event through the rest of 2026, but for now, she’s focused on advancing through the draw in Virginia Beach.

She and Fahey will face No. 5 seeds Alix Truong and Layne Sleeth in the quarterfinals on Friday.