Andy Roddick Puts the Onus on Ex-Tennis Star Turned Pickleball Pro Eugenie Bouchard to Take On Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf

Andy Roddick is at it again! The former American pro, known as much for his razor-sharp humor as for his blistering serves, is back in the headlines—but this time, it’s not about tennis. Roddick is trading his racquet for a paddle as he gears up for an epic pickleball showdown alongside Eugenie Bouchard. Their opponents? None other than tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. With the court shrinking and the stakes rising, Roddick isn’t holding back. True to form, he’s delivering his signature blend of playful banter and confidence.

In September this year, Agassi was featured in a video on Instagram and announced the return of the 3rd edition of The Pickleball Slam. “This time I will be pairing up with my Pickleball Slam win partner Andy Roddick who will be pairing up with Genie Bouchard,” he said for the tournament that will take place on February 16, 2025, in Las Vegas, which is also Agassi’s hometown. But even before the showdown, some cheeky exchanges have already begun and this time, it’s Roddick who is certain that his remarkable teammate Bouchard will drive the team to victory. 

Speaking in a video released on Instagram by The Pickleball Slam‘s official handle, Roddick said, “I don’t know since I played the last pickleball slam but my partner is a pro so hopefully that will help.” For the unversed, Bouchard began playing pickleball after failing to qualify for the US Open last year and now plays at a professional level. However, he highlighted that it would not be a big task for them and compared playing against his opponents to playing against his kid. “I play with my kid, I’m sure it’s somewhat close. Will be fine,” he added. But interestingly, while Roddick is exuding confidence the encounter in February will not be free from challenges for his team.

Remember, Agassi has demonstrated relentless skills even on the smaller courts. He emerged victorious in the tournament’s first edition in 2023 with Roddick, who now stands as his opponent. His winning trajectory continued in 2024 when he and his wife Graf, played against John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova. It is probably for this reason that the 54-year-old is equally confident. 

While announcing the return of the tournament, Agassi made his confidence clear. “I have the last laugh as I am pairing up with my legendary wife Steffi Graf!” he said. In yet another video Agassi reiterated his stance and took a dig at Roddick. “Yo Andy, I heard that the teams are all set for the Pickleball Slam 3. You and Genie got the ‘Big’ John Isner. Me and Stef got Mardy Fish. Well, we welcome Mardy Fish. And we also welcome the b–t-kicking that we’re gonna drop on you guys,” he said. But when it comes to Bouchard’s talent, both Agassi and Graf are definitely in awe. 

When Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi praised Eugenie Bouchard’s pickleball skills

As veterans of tennis are gearing up for a high-stakes encounter, the buzz is palpable. Both sides are throwing friendly shades at each other highlighting how excited and pumped up they are for the remarkable tournament. But even in such a situation as this, Eugenie Bouchard’s skills in pickleball are taking center stage with even her opponents, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf lauding her, expressing how difficult the competition would be. 

In a video shared by the official account of The Pickleball Slam, both Graf and Agassi were seen singing Bouchard’s praises. Talking about the Canadian star, Graf said, “Genie is been really playing well this year, you know taking it professional. I think to jump from Tennis to pickleball, you know, is not an easy transition.” She was echoed by her husband Agassi who admitted the challenges. “They (Roddick and Bouchard) are great competitors on top of being everything. Genie being one of the first to bridge the gap between Tennis and Pickleball.”

Now, as the showdown inches closer, it would be interesting to see how it unfolds and if Bouchard and Roddick actually turn out to be tough competitors against Agassi and Graf.