Tennis Legend Andre Agassi Teams Up with No. 1 Pickleball Star Anna Leigh Waters for Pro Debut at U.S. Open
Tennis great Andre Agassi is entering the world of professional pickleball. He’ll partner with 18-year-old world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. The event starts this Saturday in Naples, Florida, with their debut match scheduled for April 30 at noon ET. Their goal? Grow the sport and bring even more excitement to the fastest-growing game in America.
Tennis Icon Andre Agassi to Make Pro Pickleball Debut with World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters
Tennis legend Andre Agassi is making a splash in a new arena—professional pickleball. The former world No. 1 will debut at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, alongside 18-year-old phenom and current world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters.
Agassi and Waters will play their first match on April 30 at noon ET, and fans can catch the action live on CBS Sports Network.
Agassi, who has become an avid supporter of pickleball since retiring from professional tennis, expressed excitement about entering the sport's biggest stage. “She’s probably sick of winning so much, and that’s why she called me and asked me to play,” Agassi joked about Waters’ invitation.
Waters, who reportedly earned over $3 million from pickleball in 2024, said she studied Agassi’s style via YouTube before reaching out. “We both tend to err on the aggressive side, and I think that works,” she said. “Andre’s goals are to grow the sport of pickleball, and that’s a huge goal of mine. I thought if we partnered together, this would be a really awesome way to grow the sport.”
Founded in 2016, the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships has quickly become one of the sport’s most prestigious events, drawing more than 50,000 fans annually.
Pickleball itself has seen explosive growth, with participation in the U.S. soaring 311% over the past three years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. The sport now boasts major sponsorships, broadcast deals, and player earnings surpassing those in the WNBA and NWSL.
Agassi has contributed to the sport’s growth globally, partnering with pickleball brand Joola and serving as the inaugural chair of Life Time’s pickleball and tennis board. Despite his enthusiasm, he clarified that he has no immediate plans to join Major League Pickleball or the PPA Tour.
“If I had the luxury of bandwidth to focus all my energy on just playing and body recovery and all that stuff, that would be a joy. But I don’t,” he said. “I’m in a different season now.”
Still, his debut with Waters is a momentous event for the sport—and fans won’t want to miss it.