Andre Agassi Makes Pro Pickleball Debut with Anna Leigh Waters at US Open
Tennis icon Andre Agassi is stepping onto a new kind of court—this time as a professional pickleball player. The former world No. 1 in tennis announced he will make his debut at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida.
Agassi is partnering with Anna Leigh Waters, the current top-ranked player on the women's side in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. CBS Sports Network will air their first match together on Wednesday, April 30th, at noon EST.
Founded in 2016, the US Open Pickleball Championships has rapidly become a fan favorite, drawing crowds of up to 50,000 spectators annually. Waters was looking for a high profile player to play the event with, as it is one of the biggest events in pickleball each year.
Agassi, known for his fiery style and Grand Slam titles in tennis, joked about being tapped for the partnership, saying, “She’s probably sick of winning so much, and that’s why she called me.” But Waters had done her homework, scouting Agassi through online videos and concluding that their aggressive styles could be a winning combination. "Andre’s goals are to grow the sport of pickleball, and that’s a huge goal of mine,” she said. “I thought if we partnered together, this would be a really awesome way to grow the sport.”
In addition to pro mixed doubles with Agassi, Waters is once again teaming up with her mother, Leigh Waters, in women's pro doubles at the event. The mother/daughter duo won the 2024 US Open Championships and are looking for back to back golds.
Agassi has been a vocal advocate for pickleball’s accessibility and social appeal. His involvement with JOOLA, a leading pickleball equipment brand, and his role as the inaugural chair of Life Time’s pickleball and tennis board reflect his commitment to the sport’s growth. He has traveled extensively to promote pickleball globally and has emphasized its inclusive nature.
Despite his upcoming pro debut, Agassi doesn’t plan to join the sport’s professional circuits full-time. “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 participation alongside Waters marks a major moment for the sport—and a fresh chapter for one of tennis’s greatest champions.
The Dink will have a full preview of the Minto US Open Championships early next week, so make sure you're subscribed to the newsletter for all the up-to-date information with anything related to pickleball.
