Andre Agassi, a multiple Grand Slam champion, expressed his belief that pickleball will soon be included in the Olympic Games, bringing a positive impact to the tennis scene in the United States.
Speaking on Friday during the launch of the PWR DUPR India League, Agassi, who is an eight-time Grand Slam winner and an Olympic gold medallist, shared his thoughts on the fast-growing sport.
Agassi, known for his legendary tennis career, described tennis as the “most difficult racket sport in the world” due to its combination of physical, mental, and emotional demands.
However, he acknowledged that pickleball, a sport with basic tennis elements, is far easier to pick up and requires less financial investment. According to Agassi, while tennis can be financially straining and technically demanding, pickleball is more accessible, making it an appealing option for a wider audience.
“Pickleball is going to add a great deal to sport, especially here in the US. It’s going to make its way into the Olympics, possibly sooner than you might expect,” Agassi remarked.
He explained that the learning curve for pickleball is far less steep than that of tennis or cricket, making it a great entry point for people new to racket sports.
The former world No. 1 emphasised that the infrastructure needed to play pickleball is much less costly than that of tennis, where mastering the fundamentals is essential.
He explained that in pickleball, players can jump right in and start improving quickly, asking their opponents for tips, which leads to a rewarding cycle of improvement. This ease of learning, according to Agassi, makes pickleball highly engaging.
“Once you get challenged and ask the person you’re playing with, ‘How did you do that?’ and they tell you, you’ll try it and get better. It becomes addictive,” he said. Agassi believes this ability to improve quickly makes pickleball especially stimulating, appealing to a wide variety of people.
With pickleball already having over 30 million participants in the US, Agassi said the sport is still in its early stages. The sport has made a significant impact on tennis in the United States, helping struggling tennis clubs stay afloat.
Many clubs, according to Agassi, have converted tennis courts into multiple pickleball courts, increasing participation and improving the financial health of these clubs.
“Pickleball has had a positive impact on tennis,” Agassi explained. “I’ve seen many clubs that were struggling economically. They took one tennis court and turned it into three or two pickleball courts. Suddenly, there were more people playing, and these clubs were able to survive.”
This shift, Agassi noted, not only benefited the clubs but also helped boost the popularity of pickleball, attracting new players of all ages.
Another key factor driving the growth of pickleball is its affordability. Agassi pointed out that pickleball does not require expensive equipment or membership fees, making it an attractive option for those who might find tennis too costly.
“Pickleball is affordable, and you can experience success early on, which is great for social development,” he said. Agassi highlighted how playing pickleball is not just good for physical health but also for emotional and mental well-being, particularly for children.
While Agassi has always been a staunch advocate for tennis, he believes that many tennis players will eventually transition to pickleball. “It’s almost like a beautiful, full circle... a racket marriage, if you will,” he said, noting that pickleball offers a less daunting entry point for people who may be intimidated by the complexities of tennis.
As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, Agassi predicts that players who start with tennis will eventually try pickleball, appreciating its accessibility and ease of play.
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