The Pickleball Slam made its return for the second consecutive year on Sunday night, featuring four tennis legends boasting an impressive tally of 42 Grand Slam titles among them, who battled it out in the final match for a hefty $1 million purse.
In a thrilling showdown, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf emerged victorious over John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova to claim the slam title. The event comprised three doubles matches, with each team pairing up with former tennis players and current pickleball enthusiasts James Blake and Jack Sock.
The opening match of the evening saw Agassi and Sock facing off against McEnroe and Blake, with Agassi and Sock clinching victory with scores of 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. The following match witnessed Graf and Sock triumphing over Sharapova and Blake with scores of 9-11, 11-8, 17-5.
Heading into the final match with a commanding 2-0 lead, the team led by Agassi and his wife Graf showcased their prowess once again. They outplayed McEnroe and Sharapova with scores of 11-7 and 13-11, securing the purse with a resounding 4-0 victory. This marked another defeat for McEnroe, who had previously faced Agassi and Andy Roddick in April 2023 during the inaugural Pickleball Slam.
Fans eagerly tuned in to witness the iconic former tennis players battle it out in Hollywood, Florida, as evidenced by the enthusiastic tweets flooding social media platforms.
Reflecting on her transition from tennis to pickleball, Graf shared her thoughts before the event, acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a new sport. “Goodness, I’m still trying to unlearn [tennis],” she remarked. “I have not had an easy time. I want to move around. I want to hit the ball. I don’t want to slow down and be patient, waiting for the right moment to attack. I tend to want to keep my feet moving. That’s what I learned in tennis.”
Despite her initial apprehensions, Graf showcased her adaptability and comfort on the pickleball court, contributing to her team’s victory in Pickleball Slam 2.
