Which sport is better: tennis, which has been practiced for decades and has seen the rise and fall of numerous champions, or pickleball, the paddle sport that is currently gaining immense popularity? Fortunately, we have the answer. Andre Agassi, the American tennis icon who is preparing to compete in the pickleball slam, compares the sport in which he is a Hall of Famer with the contentious paddle sport.

Tennis giants including John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and Michael Chang, are also set to go against each other later this year in April. These tennis stars are all set to play in the inaugural pickleball slam. And will compete for a $1 million prize money.

Andre Agassi compares tennis to pickleball 

The pickleball sport’s official Facebook page recently posted a video of the 52-year-old tennis legend playing pickleball and comparing tennis and pickleball. He talked about how tennis somehow brought his aggressive side out into the open, but that is not the case with pickleball. The eight-time Grand Slam champion focused on how the new racquetball sport is quite a redesigned version of tennis.

In that video, the American tennis star said, “In tennis, you have to be always kind of taught to go after the ball. You know, in pickleball, you have to kind of re-discipline yourself, to slow down, let the ball come to you. So, if a ball’s playing me in tennis, I get more aggressive. But if a ball is (being) hit in pickleball, you kinda have to go into chill mode”.

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According to the former tennis player, pickleball is an “Interesting discipline where your blood pressure is going up.” Furthermore, he noted that the most significant transition from tennis is ball striking. Also, it was discussed how there is no such urgency in pickleball as there is in tennis, where it is always vital to get the ball to its intended location swiftly. On the plus side, though, the eight-time Grand Slam champion will finally face off against John McEnroe in the first pickleball slam.

Agassi to compete against his arch-rival, John McEnroe 

After several decades, both tennis icons will be seen standing opposite each other on the court, but playing a different racquetball sport. Before the match between the two tennis legends, Andy Roddick and Chang will face off in a classic encounter. Following the two singles rounds, McEnroe and Chang will face Roddick and Agassi in a doubles match.

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Nonetheless, SuperBrat’s decision to compete in the inaugural tournament has raised eyebrows among tennis fans due to his $1 million pickleball u-turn. Seeing the four tennis greats back on the court, however, will be a huge treat for tennis fans who have watched the players dominate the tennis courts.

Will matches like this help pickleball enhance its popularity in other countries as well? Let us know in the comments.