Tennis Legend Andre Agassi Enters Pro Pickleball Arena at U.S. Open in Naples
Tennis legend Andre Agassi is taking his talents to the pickleball court, making his professional debut at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. The eight-time Grand Slam champion will partner with world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, who’s already racked up 148 professional titles. It’s quite the career pivot for Agassi – from smashing tennis balls to whacking pickleballs. His involvement signals big things brewing in this rapidly growing sport.
Tennis legend Andre Agassi is swapping his racquet for a paddle. The eight-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 is set to make his professional pickleball debut at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. And he’s not doing it alone.
Agassi’s partner? None other than pickleball sensation Anna Leigh Waters, the current world No. 1 who’s been crushing it with 148 Professional Pickleball Association titles. Waters, who banked over $3 million in 2024 alone, personally reached out to Agassi after seeing his skills on the court. Talk about a power duo. Waters already has 173 PPA titles across various formats, making her one of the most dominant players in the sport.
In a pickleball power move, world champion Anna Leigh Waters hand-picked tennis legend Andre Agassi as her partner for 2025.
The tournament, scheduled for April 26-May 3 at East Naples Community Park, marks Agassi’s initial serious foray into competitive pickleball. Having previously raised over $60 million for at-risk children through his charitable foundation, Agassi brings his philanthropic spirit to this new venture. The low-impact nature of pickleball makes it an ideal transition for the tennis veteran. It’s quite the jump from his 2023 Pickleball Slam exhibition appearance on ESPN. But then again, Agassi’s never been one to do things halfway.
Since retiring from tennis in 2006, the Career Golden Slam winner has kept busy. He’s launched his own line of pro pickleball paddles with JOOLA, proving that retirement is just a word in his vocabulary. The equipment line targets both competitive and recreational players, because apparently, being a Hall of Famer isn’t enough – he needs to corner the paddle market too.
The timing couldn’t be better for pickleball’s explosive growth. With over 13 million players in the US alone, the sport has evolved from a backyard game to a legitimate competitive pursuit. It’s like tennis and ping pong had a baby, and everyone wants to babysit.
Between his new TNT Sports gig as a French Open analyst and his pickleball debut, Agassi’s 2025 is shaping up to be busier than a tennis ball machine on full speed. His participation in the US Open Pickleball Championships isn’t just another celebrity crossover – it’s a demonstration of pickleball’s mainstream appeal. Who knew a sport with such a silly name could get so serious?
