By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Photo credit: Laver Cup Facebook
Andre Agassi is set to take on the US Open.
This weekend, prepare for the US Open Pickleball Championships!
The legendary Hall of Famer, a two-time US Open tennis champion, is gearing up for his professional pickleball debut at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida.
Former world No. 1 Agassi will join forces with 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters for their first match on Saturday, April 30th at noon, which will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
In a lighthearted interview with CNBC, Agassi quipped, “She’s probably tired of winning constantly, which is why she recruited me to play.”
Tennis icon Andre Agassi teams up with No. 1 player Waters for his pro pickleball tournament debut
https://t.co/IkupYwSyHO— CNBC (@CNBC) April 22, 2025
While Agassi has previously showcased his skills in exhibition matches alongside his wife and fellow Hall of Famer Steffi Graf, he clarified to CNBC that he is not pursuing a full-time career in pickleball.
“If I had the opportunity to dedicate myself entirely to playing and recovery, that would be a dream. But at this point, my life is in a different chapter,” Agassi shared with CNBC.
The 54-year-old tennis legend is poised to take the helm as Team World captain at the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco, succeeding his friend John McEnroe.
Waters expressed her excitement about partnering with Agassi, revealing, “I scouted his game before inviting him to play at this weekend’s US Open. We both have an aggressive playstyle, and that’s a perfect match. Agassi’s aspirations to expand the pickleball community align perfectly with my own goals.”
She added, “Teaming up with him is an incredible opportunity to elevate the sport further.”
