Andy Roddick Labels Tennis Legend as an Underdog: As the stage is set for Pickleball Slam 3 in February 2025, Andy Roddick is making waves with his playful comments about his upcoming opponents, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. In a recent promotional video, Roddick humorously downplayed the defending champions, calling them “underdogs” despite their impressive success in the sport.
The tournament will take place at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, on February 16, 2025, with a staggering $1 million prize pool and live broadcasts on ESPN.
- Event: Pickleball Slam 3
- Date: February 16, 2025
- Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
- Prize Pool: $1 million
- Broadcast: Live on ESPN
Roddick’s Playful Jabs
During the promotional video, Roddick joked, “Andre and Steffi are absolutely the underdogs,” despite Agassi’s intense dedication to the sport. Roddick acknowledged Agassi’s commitment, joking that Agassi has been playing eight hours of pickleball a day for the past three years. The comments came with a chuckle, with Roddick remarking, “Who thought it would ever come to that?”
“Andre and Steffi are absolutely the underdogs. Steffi’s great, I will never say anything bad about Stef but they are the underdogs even in the face of Andre playing eight hours of pickleball a day for the last three years of his life. I mean, who thought it would ever come to that?” – (Roddick)
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Roddick’s Surprising Exit in Pickleball Slam 2
The upcoming competition will be a reunion of sorts for Roddick and Agassi, but with a twist. In Pickleball Slam 2 (2024), Roddick was replaced by Steffi Graf in the pair’s second appearance at the event. Reflecting on this change, Roddick admitted it was “weird” to be replaced, despite helping Agassi secure their victory in the first edition.
“It was a weird thing for me to just totally carry Andre [Agassi] to victory and then he just kind of, I think he just kind of kicked me out of the event and went on with his business. I guess that’s what happens when you have a wife who’s the best of all time as an option.” – (Roddick)
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The Rivalry Intensifies
In Pickleball Slam 3, Roddick will return to the event, but as Agassi’s opponent. He will team up with Eugenie Bouchard, the Canadian tennis and pickleball player, to take on Agassi and Graf in a highly anticipated showdown.
- Roddick’s New Partner: Eugenie Bouchard
- Agassi and Graf: Defending champions from Pickleball Slam 2
As the event approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting the clash of these tennis legends, now turned pickleball rivals.
News in Brief: Andy Roddick Labels Tennis Legend as an Underdog
Andy Roddick has playfully labeled Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf as “underdogs” ahead of Pickleball Slam 3 on February 16, 2025, at Las Vegas’s Michelob ULTRA Arena. With a $1 million prize pool, the event pairs Roddick with Eugenie Bouchard against Agassi and Graf, the defending champions.
Roddick’s humor highlights Agassi’s intense preparation, joking about his “eight hours a day” practice routine. The showdown airs live on ESPN, promising a thrilling rivalry between these tennis icons turned pickleball stars.
ALSO READ: Eugenie Bouchard Challenges Andre Agassi Ahead of a Major Pickleball Tournament