Author: Chandra Moulee Das
The first Pickleball Slam, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, featured four Grand Slam champions – Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Michael Chang.
This unique event took place just sixteen kilometers from the Miami Open, where Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner were competing for the 2023 title.
The first singles match of the Pickleball Slam saw McEnroe beat Agassi with a score of 15-13, 16-14. The second singles match pitted Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, against Michael Chang, the youngest man in history to win a Grand Slam title. Roddick won 15-10, 15-10, setting up the final doubles match.
The doubles match was the most significant, with Agassi and Roddick teaming up to beat McEnroe and Chang 21-15, 21-23, 12-10. The spectators had a great time watching the former tennis champions compete, and the players themselves seemed to enjoy themselves, playing the game with a carefree attitude.
Speaking on the sidelines after the doubles match, 52-year-old Agassi shared his newfound love for the sport by saying: “100% personal. I never thought I’d say this, but I’ll play as long as I can walk. I can’t wait to get back. Pickleball is where tennis players go to die.”
Andre Agassi and John McEnroe exchange funny jokes on social media
In the days leading up to the event, the four players had already started some light-hearted banter on social media, which continued throughout the game.
McEnroe even expressed his frustration with a call against him, saying, “Come on, they’re trying to trick me out of this thing.”
Meanwhile, Agassi joked about McEnroe, calling him a “pain in the ass”.
Despite some criticism of pickleball from ex-tennis players like Rennae Stubbs, the sport’s popularity has increased in recent years. This event with four Grand Slam champions is proof of the growing appeal of pickleball.