Tennis legend Andre Agassi has officially made his professional pickleball debut, showcasing his competitive fire on a new court at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. The former world No. 1 and eight-time Grand Slam champion traded in his familiar tennis racquet for a plastic paddle, teaming up with 18-year-old pickleball sensation Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed pro doubles division.
Though best known for dominating tennis in the 1990s and early 2000s—with four Australian Open titles and an Olympic gold medal from Atlanta 1996—Agassi is now turning heads in the fast-growing sport of pickleball. Known for its smaller court and unique equipment, pickleball features paddles and perforated plastic balls, and games are typically played to 11 points in a best-of-three format.
Agassi and Waters kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought victory over the duo of Stevie Petropouleas and Tristan Dussault. The match saw the pair edge out their opponents in a thrilling three-set battle, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, showcasing Agassi’s adaptability and still-sharp court instincts.
Their momentum, however, was short-lived. In the quarterfinal round, they faced a formidable team in Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain. Despite a strong start, Agassi and Waters fell in three sets—11-7, 4-11, 7-11—bringing an end to the tennis icon’s first professional pickleball outing.
Agassi’s entry into the sport highlights pickleball’s rising popularity, especially among former athletes seeking a competitive yet accessible outlet post-retirement. While his first tournament run ended earlier than hoped, his appearance drew significant attention to the event and to the sport itself.
With a tennis résumé that includes a Career Golden Slam—titles at all four Grand Slams plus Olympic gold—Agassi is part of an elite group of just five singles players in tennis history to accomplish that feat. He was the first male player to do so, later joined by legends like Rafael Nadal and, most recently, Novak Djokovic at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Now, with pickleball experiencing rapid growth across the U.S. and worldwide, Agassi’s crossover adds even more legitimacy and star power to the sport. Whether this marks the beginning of a longer pickleball journey or simply a fun detour in retirement, one thing is clear: Andre Agassi still loves to compete.
Could another champion be preparing to follow in Agassi’s footsteps onto the pickleball court? Time will tell, but for now, his debut has added a new chapter to an already storied athletic legacy.