Pickleball might have started as a backyard pastime, but it’s now swinging its way into the big leagues—and pulling legends along for the ride.According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), a staggering 48.3 million adults played the sport between 2022 and 2023. And yes, that includes tennis royalty. Andre Agassi competed in four major ‘Pickleball Slams’ alongside fellow tennis icons. In the latest one held just two months ago in Las Vegas, he paired up with his wife—none other than 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf. The power couple took on Wimbledon finalist-turned-pickleballer Eugenie Bouchard and Andy Roddick. And guess what? Agassi and Graf walked away with the win. But that were exhibition matches, the American legend  is now ready for the real thing and his daughter couldn’t be prouder!

Pickleball has become a part of the Agassi-Graf household. Like many others, they first picked it up during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when courts were empty but energy levels were not. Since then, the game has evolved from a fun activity to a lifestyle—and now, a career revival. Agassi’s final professional tennis match, which he lost to Germany’s Benjamin Becker at the 2006 U.S. Open, was 19 years ago. Now he’s ready to return again, but this time with a paddle in his hand. The eight-time Grand Slam champion will make his professional pickleball debut at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships next week. And he won’t be going it alone. Agassi is teaming up with none other than Anna Leigh Waters—the 18-year-old phenom who’s already amassed a jaw-dropping 148 titles on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tour. Their first match is scheduled for April 30 and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.

Of course, no milestone in the Agassi household goes unnoticed by one of his biggest supporters—his daughter, Jaz Agassi. When Agassi announced the news on Instagram, Jaz wasted no time resharing the post.

Her enthusiasm was contagious, hyping up her father’s bold new move. But then again, she’s always been in his corner. Just last month, she was courtside when her dad laced up his tennis shoes again for a special exhibition match at the MGM Rewards Slam in Las Vegas. Agassi, paired with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, took on Naomi Osaka and Mardy Fish in a thrilling one-round tiebreaker. The Agassi-Sabalenka duo clinched the win 10-8—and yes, Jaz was right there cheering from the stands. That’s not all. She also gifted him an iconic memorabilia: his red bandana from the 1995 Australian Open. “What a fun day playing in my hometown of Vegas yesterday. Can’t believe my daughter @jazagassi found me the exact red bandana I wore back in 1995, so I had to bring it back. An awesome way to celebrate the here and now,” Agassi posted on his Instagram Story.

Transitioning from professional tennis to pickleball isn’t just a headline moment; it’s also a deeply personal journey for the 54-year-old tennis icon.

Andre Agassi opens up on the significance of pickleball in his life

On a recent episode of the Bad Calls – Pickleball Podcast, he opened up about the sport’s surprising impact on his social life. “This might say more about me than I care to admit, but me and Steff (i Graf) actually make friends. You know how hard it is to make friends. I’m 55 years old. I mean, it’s sad but true. It’s hard, right? The older you get, the less people in your life, right? But pickle(ball) has actually turned that on its head. It’s like we have people we just enjoy being with. Pickleball court, running into them at dinner somewhere, going out,” Agassi said.

And just in case you were wondering—no, the couple doesn’t face off against each other. They’ve made a pact to always play on the same side of the net. Talk about marriage goals.

But even as Agassi dives deeper into pickleball, he hasn’t left tennis behind. He was recently announced as an analyst for TNT Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery’s coverage of the 2025 French Open semifinals and final. That’s not all—he’s also been named captain of Team World at this year’s Laver Cup. His love for tennis may have evolved, but it’s definitely still in play.

Andre Agassi’s story is far from over—it’s simply entered a new chapter with a smaller court, a louder paddle, and the same fire in his heart. Are you ready to see what happens when a legend picks up a paddle?