Agassi, Graf claim $1 million prize in Pickleball Slam
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – John McEnroe threw a couple of fits. And Maria Sharapova eased him away from throwing a few more.
But the tennis legends were no match for the sport’s most popular couple.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf defeated McEnroe and Sharapova to win a $1 million purse in Pickleball Slam 2, which was broadcast in prime time on ESPN at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on Sunday night.
“I’m sure we got some good ideas,” Graf told USA TODAY Sports when asked about their plans for the winnings.
The four former world No. 1s, who combined for 42 Grand Slam singles titles in tennis, embraced the stage in pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
Agassi and McEnroe starred in the event last year with former tennis pros Andy Roddick and Michael Chang.
But the additions of Graf, Sharapova and former tennis players-turned-pickleballers Jack Sock and James Blake expanded the event’s range with an effort to bridge the passionate divide between the sports.
“To me, tennis is always the king. But it’s easy to play this. That’s why my friends play with me all the time,” McEnroe said of pickleball. “But the better the level [of competition], you better practice.”
Added Agassi: “The sports themselves, they can live and play happily in the sandbox. There’s no reason why a tennis player can’t have a paddle in their bag and pull it out at any time. Courts are everywhere now, and I think that’s less and less.”
Agassi and Sock, who plays professionally in Major League Pickleball, won the first match against McEnroe and Blake, a team owner of the MLP’s Milwaukee Mashers, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. Graf and Sock won the second match against Sharapova and Blake 9-11, 11-8, 17-15.
Agassi and Graf won the third and final match 11-7, 13-11 to sweep the event.
McEnroe says he prefers singles matches in pickleball for a better workout, while he felt exposed with doubles matches with dink shots – returns closer to the net which require players to lower their bodies to make contact.
McEnroe only slammed his paddle to the ground twice during the event in patented frustration. “I’m probably more frustrated, but I am getting older,” McEnroe said. “So, I’m trying to come up with something new, you know?”
Graf said she’s been playing pickleball “seriously” for about six months with Agassi, who picked up the sport more frequently after last year’s event.
Despite being the most accomplished player in her house, Graf said she felt some nervous jitters before the event.
“Before we started, I had a lot of nerves and I haven’t felt that way in many years,” said Graf, who retired in 1999 with 107 singles titles. “It’s a great crowd and it’s really special.”