🎾 Andre Agassi Makes Pro Pickleball Debut at US Open – Falls in Second Match
Tennis legend Andre Agassi made his much-anticipated pro pickleball debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, teaming up with world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters. While the former world No. 1 tennis player showed flashes of brilliance, his journey in the tournament was cut short in the second round.
🌟 Highlights:
- Agassi and Waters won their opening match against Stevie Petropouleas and Tristan Dussault:
Score – 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 - The duo lost in their second match to Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain:
Score – 11-7, 4-11, 7-11 - This marked Agassi’s professional debut in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball
- Pickleball participation soared to an estimated 48.3 million players between 2022–2023
🏓 A New Challenge for a Tennis Icon
Known for his dominance on the tennis court with 8 Grand Slam titles, Andre Agassi, now 55, has found a new passion in pickleball. Ahead of the tournament, he expressed admiration for his partner, 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, saying:
“She’s right up there with the greatest ever in what she does and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting.”
🏆 From Tennis Champion to Pickleball Promoter
Agassi, who often plays pickleball with his wife, Steffi Graf (a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion), has become an outspoken supporter of the sport. Graf praised his quick learning, noting:
“His sense for this game, how quickly he picked it up, was absolutely phenomenal to watch.”
Agassi has been actively promoting pickleball around the world, including in India, where he referred to it as a more accessible alternative to tennis, while still calling tennis the “most difficult racket sport in the world.”
🔮 Is Pickleball Headed for the Olympics?
With its explosive growth, Agassi believes pickleball has Olympic potential:
“It’s going to grow like you can’t even imagine… I could absolutely see it at the Olympics.”
Still, despite his passion, Agassi downplayed the likelihood of a full-time professional pickleball career:
“I’m in a different season now… If I had the luxury to focus all my energy on it, that would be a joy. But I don’t.”
💡 Final Thoughts
While Andre Agassi’s time at the US Open Pickleball Championships was brief, his debut marked a significant moment for the sport’s visibility. With influential athletes like Agassi championing it, pickleball’s future looks brighter than ever.
