Agassi Prepares for Pickleball Slam 3: Andre Agassi, the tennis legend, opened up about the challenges of transitioning to pickleball ahead of the Pickleball Slam 3. The event will take place on February 16, 2025, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, featuring Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick, and Eugenie Bouchard.
Agassi highlighted the difficulty of “unlearning” tennis instincts, particularly when playing doubles in pickleball. He noted the differences in style between the two sports, saying,
“One of the challenges of being a tennis player moving over to pickleball…is you almost have to unlearn instincts.” – (Agassi)
Contrasting Styles of Tennis and Pickleball
Agassi explained how tennis players are used to aggressive movements, while pickleball demands a calm and composed approach.
“In tennis you see space and you try to go after it aggressively. The balls may be faster but the persons further away so you kind of have this dancing that’s going on and then sort of expect this explosion through the ball. Pickle is like, you have to have urgency getting up to the ball but then you’ve got to stay calm in order to execute the shot. So that is very counter intuitive for a tennis player.” – (Agassi)
Despite the challenges, Agassi shared how pickleball has become a meaningful outlet for him.
“So there’s been a lot of unlearning but at the same time you also have this ability to process and to adjust, so it’s really a great outlet from a psychological, mental, focus standpoint. I mean I’m tired after playing pickleball physically because I’m really expelling myself.” – (Agassi)
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Mental and Physical Demands of Pickleball
Agassi described pickleball as a different kind of “mental sport” compared to tennis. He emphasized the focus required due to the sport’s fast pace and small margins for error.
“But I realised how differently I’m tired also took sort of mentally ‘cause you have to be so focused, partly because of the unlearning but the other part is the margins are so small, things can happen so quick and you’re in such proximity, that if you’re not fully locked on, the bottom can fall out. It’s a different kind of mental sport.” – (Agassi)
Looking Forward to Pickleball Slam 3
The Pickleball Slam 3 promises to bring excitement to fans as tennis stars compete in a new setting. Agassi’s reflections highlight the complexities of adapting to pickleball, offering a glimpse into how even seasoned athletes adjust to the sport. The event will showcase the growing popularity of pickleball and its appeal to former tennis professionals.
News in Brief: Agassi Prepares for Pickleball Slam 3
Andre Agassi discussed the challenges of switching from tennis to pickleball ahead of the Pickleball Slam 3 on February 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. He shared the need to “unlearn” tennis instincts and adapt to pickleball’s unique demands, calling it a mental and physical outlet. Fans eagerly await the exciting tournament.
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