Andy Roddick: 'I Didn't Realize Pickleballers Were a National Security Concern'
Andy Roddick may prefer tennis over pickleball, but he can't seem to stop talking about America's fastest-growing sport.
In a recent episode of Roddick's podcast, "Served with Andy Roddick," taped live at SXSW in Austin, TX, author and pickleball enthusiast Brené Brown sat down with the tennis legend to explore the collective fascination with pickleball, shedding light on its unique identity when compared to tennis and addressing the ongoing court-sharing controversy between the two sports.
'National Security Concern'
Brown, an avid pickleball player, emphasized the distinctiveness of pickleball compared to tennis, stressing that the sports serve different communities and needs.
"They're not the same game," she said. "Pickleball is not a miniature version of tennis — they're different games, for different people, for different reasons."
Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers. She hosts two podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.
Highlighting the intensity of pickleball's community, Brown served up this quip: "Both are intense, tennis players and pickleball players. But hey, a street fight comes, I'm going with the pickleball players."
Surprised, Roddick responded with characteristic wit, "They roll that hard? I didn't realize pickleballers were a national security concern."
(p.s save 58% by taking an additional 15% off sale items on Midwest Racquet Sports using our employee code "thedink")
A Matter of Real Estate
Addressing the ongoing tension over court space, Brown clarified, "The fight is about clubs where pickleball players want to take over tennis courts."
Roddick agreed: "We wouldn't be putting the pickleball courts in if the tennis courts were full and paid for."
While supportive of pickleball's accessibility and rapid growth, Roddick revealed his personal preference remains firmly with tennis. "On a participatory level, I love pickleball. I think it's brought a ton of joy to a ton of people," he conceded. "It's not for me, yet. I enjoy it; I choose tennis when I get to play."
Jason Flamm
One Thing They Agree On
Roddick also shared a nuanced observation about pickleball's unique competitive arc, noting, "I think it's the only professional sport where the better you get, the more it slows down."
Ultimately, both Brown and Roddick agreed on one clear point: "Comparison is impossible."
That may be true — but it sure is fun.
