Andre Agassi’s Pickleball US Open Debut: Tennis icon Andre Agassi’s professional pickleball debut came to a quick end on April 30 at the US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida. Partnering with world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, Agassi’s team won their first match but lost their second, ending their run after just two games.
A Brief Run at the US Open
Agassi and Waters started strong in their noon match, defeating teenage challengers Tristan Dussault, 16, and Stevie Petropoulos, 13, in a three-set battle: 11-8, 9-11, 11-7. However, the excitement ended that evening. In their second match at 6:30 p.m., they fell to Len Yang and Trang Huynh-McClain in another three-setter: 7-11, 11-4, 11-7.
McClain and Yang Pull Off the Upset
Trang Huynh-McClain, 31, from Buena Park, California, was making her US Open debut. She had played 79 matches before this tournament. Her partner, Len Yang from Fuzhou, China, had played only 10 career matches after switching from table tennis.
After the win, McClain said on the YouTube Pickleball Channel, “I’m excited. Andre Agassi was my growing-up idol. So it’s phenomenal. I did say at the beginning of the tournament, I wish I could play them in mixed, so it came true, and really fun playing with Len. And he just did a phenomenal job. And I’m happy that we went out with a win.”
Match Highlights
Agassi and Waters began strong in the first set, going up 5-0 and later 9-1. McClain and Yang settled down and pulled within 9-7, but Agassi closed the set 11-7 with a winner. In the second set, McClain and Yang controlled the pace. They took an early 5-1 lead and won the set 11-4 after Waters and Agassi failed to score again.
In the third set, McClain and Yang went up 8-3. Agassi hit several shots long and struggled with his serve. Waters and Agassi pulled within 8-7, helped by a strong shot from Agassi. However, McClain and Yang finished with three straight points. The final one came after Agassi hit into the net.
What It Means
Agassi’s short debut showed his willingness to explore a new sport, though the quick exit revealed the challenge of competing at the top level in pickleball. For McClain and Yang, the win marked a memorable moment, especially against a legendary opponent. The US Open continues, with other pros moving forward in the draw.
News in Brief: Andre Agassi’s Pickleball US Open Debut
Andre Agassi’s pro pickleball debut ended on April 30 at the US Open in Naples after just two matches. Teaming with Anna Leigh Waters, they won their first match but lost the second to Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang. McClain called it “phenomenal” to play against her childhood idol.