Andre Agassi set to make surprise professional debut in new sport aged 54
Andre Agassi will make a US Open return next week, but tennis will be swapped for pickleball. Two of Agassi’s eight Grand Slam title victories came at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 1994 and 1999. Agassi was a huge fan favourite at the US OpenGetty His appearance came in 2006, the same year he retired as one of the greatest tennis players of all-time. Agassi will now pick up a different racquet for the US Open Pickleball Championships at the East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida. The 54-year-old is set to play in the mixed doubles event alongside Anna Leigh Waters, the current women’s singles world no.1. Waters has already won 148 Professional Pickleball Association [PPA] at the age of 18 and plays doubles with her mother Leigh. The teenager is also world no.1 in the women’s doubles and women’s mixed doubles. Speaking before his pickleball debut via The Athletic, Agassi said: “It was very apparent that Anna Leigh was very tired of winning. “She wanted to add a little spice to her life and make it quite the difficult challenge. “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.” Agassi and Waters look set to appear on the court on April 30. Pickleball combines tennis and ping pong and has become one of the most increasingly popular sports in the world. Agassi has played pickleball alongside his wife SteffiGetty He will now join Waters for the US Open Pickleball mixed doublesGetty Agassi already has plenty of experience in the sportGetty Agassi played with his wife and 22-time women’s singles Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf in the Pickleball Slam in February. The married duo beat Andy Roddick and Genie Bouchard to win the $1million prize. It followed their 2024 triumph over fellow legends John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova. Agassi is a 60-time title winner at ATP level and former world no.1, as well as an Olympic gold medallist at the 1996 games in Atlanta. He won four Australian Open titles during his career, as well as the French Open and Wimbledon to complete the career Grand Slam.
Andre Agassi will make a US Open return next week, but tennis will be swapped for pickleball.
Two of Agassi’s eight Grand Slam title victories came at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 1994 and 1999.
His appearance came in 2006, the same year he retired as one of the greatest tennis players of all-time.
Agassi will now pick up a different racquet for the US Open Pickleball Championships at the East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida.
The 54-year-old is set to play in the mixed doubles event alongside Anna Leigh Waters, the current women’s singles world no.1.
Waters has already won 148 Professional Pickleball Association [PPA] at the age of 18 and plays doubles with her mother Leigh.
The teenager is also world no.1 in the women’s doubles and women’s mixed doubles.
Speaking before his pickleball debut via The Athletic, Agassi said: “It was very apparent that Anna Leigh was very tired of winning.
“She wanted to add a little spice to her life and make it quite the difficult challenge.
“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.”
Agassi and Waters look set to appear on the court on April 30.
Pickleball combines tennis and ping pong and has become one of the most increasingly popular sports in the world.
Agassi played with his wife and 22-time women’s singles Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf in the Pickleball Slam in February.
The married duo beat Andy Roddick and Genie Bouchard to win the $1million prize.
It followed their 2024 triumph over fellow legends John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova.
Agassi is a 60-time title winner at ATP level and former world no.1, as well as an Olympic gold medallist at the 1996 games in Atlanta.
He won four Australian Open titles during his career, as well as the French Open and Wimbledon to complete the career Grand Slam.
