Year 2003, month January! A period that went down in the history books of the American tennis fanbase. Legendary player Andre Agassi took down Rainer Schüttler to win his eighth and final grand slam title. This was the moment when America, as a whole, witnessed an era that no other American ATP star could repeat. It was nothing less than a revolution for the sport, and fans and players still honor the efforts of Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf. After years of marking an end to his career, the legend is now shaping pickleball, with the intention of making it touch the skies.

Andre Agassi, who is 54-years-young, made it clear that he’s still got the magic despite chronic back pain and a limp. The tennis legend stepped onto a pickleball court in Sydney earlier this month. He captivated a crowd of 300 at the UBS Australasia conference. Agassi’s backhand, quick wit, and charismatic presence stole the spotlight. After the game, Agassi graciously posed for selfies with the amazing audience.

The exhibition doubles match paired Agassi with an amateur pickleball enthusiast who attended the forum as a reporter. Before the game began, Agassi encouraged his partner with a fist bump, saying, “You got this.” Their team faced tough competition but had to face a defeat ultimately, to a duo nicknamed “Hargreaves’ Beauties.”

Pickleball’s meteoric rise has drawn the attention of stars from across sports and entertainment. The list includes LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Heidi Klum. But what about other demographics like Asia. An interesting incident unfolded which showed Agassi’s confidence in the sports’ potential in Asia.  He said, “In the next five years, you’re gonna see, it is crazy.” His words came after he saw just a few hands raised when he asked people at UBS conference if they had played pickleball .The sport began as a children’s backyard game in Washington state 60 years ago and saw 13.6 million players in 2023, a 52% jump from the previous year. Recognizing its appeal, Agassi has invested in Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), a platform that ranks players and connects them with others of similar skill levels.

Pickleball’s accessibility is driving its popularity across Asia. Andre Agassi will officially open the Pickleball World Rankings league tournament in India. The sport has grown rapidly there, with 15,000 participants in this year’s tournament, a big jump from just 3,000 players in 2020, according to the All-India Pickleball Association. Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and Anil Kapoor have also helped inspire more Indians to pick up the game.

As the sport spreads, more clubs are opening across the region. Players are now adding pickleball to their travel plans as a fun way to connect with locals and play matches in new countries. Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the leading users of DUPR’s ranking system in Asia. Last year, the system also launched in China to further expand the game’s reach.

Despite tensions between tennis and pickleball enthusiasts over court time and funding, Agassi remained neutral. During a fireside chat at the UBS conference, he said, “I don’t sort of say, ‘Pickleball over tennis.’ Pickle’s all about playing. It’s a low point of entry.” On being asked about competing with his wife, tennis legend Steffi Graf, Agassi laughed off the suggestion. “If you want to stay married, you don’t play against your wife,” he quipped. “We fight for each other. We play on the same side.”

The couple is now gearing up for Pickleball Slam 3 which is scheduled for February 16 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. They will defend their title against Andy Roddick and Eugenie Bouchard for a $1 million prize. However, this wasn’t the only moment when Agassi spoke highly about the paddle sport.

Andre Agassi goes all in to give pickleball a boost

The growing “pickleball vs. tennis” debate continues to spark discussions across court sports. However, Andre Agassi sees pickleball as something more profound. Speaking at Life Time’s New York City pickleball event, the former world no.1 shared his thoughts on the sport’s appeal. “If you have your weekend-warrior match in tennis and I give you tickets to Alcaraz-Nadal playing down the street, you’re going to give up playing to watch,” Agassi explained. “But with pickleball, if I say the best are playing down the street, you’d say, ‘Well, what about us? What about our game? We want to play.’ It’s a real participation-centric activity.”

Agassi showcased his love for the game during a two-round exhibition match at Life Time PENN 1, Manhattan’s pickleball hub with seven courts. He played alongside Eugenie Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist, and professional picklers Kate Fahey, Brooke Buckner, and Ryan Sherry. The lively event highlighted the sport’s inclusivity. “This is the only thing where you can take anybody, any age, any race, any background, knee brace, no knee brace, and have a good time,” Sherry shared.

Adding to the excitement, former NBA player Kris Humphries and Life Time founder Bahram Akradi joined the players. The event was not just about competition but also about celebrating the social and accessible nature of pickleball. Agassi summed up his passion for the sport, saying, “I love watching pickleball, but only until I get to that point of wanting to go play it.” The event left no doubt that pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a movement that brings people together.