Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Dominate Pickleball: Tennis legend Andre Agassi recently shared how playing pickleball has affected him physically and mentally, even surprising his wife, Steffi Graf. Agassi, who lost 40 pounds after taking up the sport, discussed his experiences during the launch of the PWR DUPR India League in Mumbai on December 13.
Pickleball Exhaustion Surprises Agassi
Agassi explained that after playing tennis, he could quickly bounce back.
“If I go play tennis now with my wife or friends, I spend a lot of energy and I can do it for a period of time until I am exhausted. And then I come home and I take a shower and I’m ready to do anything – okay, I’ve got a meeting, a business meeting, I’ve got this, I’ve got that.”
However, playing pickleball is a different experience.
“When I play pickleball, the same exhaustion happens but when I get home – I’ve just realized this over the past few months, I can’t go from a pickleball court to a meeting. Because I’m so tired mentally, too. Tennis, physically, no question, and you’re concentrating, but you get these breaks. Pickleball, you don’t get it.”
A Surprising Reaction from Steffi Graf
Agassi went on to describe how his wife, Steffi Graf, reacted when she first saw him after playing pickleball.
“So I get home and I just lay on the couch. In the beginning when, Stef, my wife wasn’t playing… she looked at me like, ‘You just played pickleball, what’s the matter with you?’”
He explained that pickleball left him mentally exhausted as well as physically drained, often leaving him to crash on the couch.
“But I promise I am honestly as tired mentally as I am physically. And it was like I just came out of the swimming pool. That’s how much I sweated.”
Pickleball Helps Agassi Lose Weight
Agassi also joked about the weight loss benefits of playing pickleball. “It helped me lose 40 pounds! I mean, I shouldn’t ever have had the 40 pounds in the first place.” he said, referring to the physical changes he noticed after regular pickleball sessions.
Agassi and Graf: A Pickleball Power Couple
Agassi and Graf are becoming a dynamic team in pickleball. After Graf joined Agassi for the Pickleball Slam in 2023, the couple won the title and $1 million in prize money.
They will play together again in the upcoming Pickleball Slam 3 on February 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. This time, they will face off against Andy Roddick and Eugenie Bouchard in a highly anticipated match.
Growing Popularity of Pickleball
Agassi’s comments reflect the growing appeal of pickleball, not only for its fitness benefits but also for its fun and challenging nature. As the sport continues to grow in popularity in the U.S. and globally, more athletes like Agassi and Graf are embracing it. This may pave the way for future collaborations and events in pickleball, further solidifying the sport’s place in athletics.
News in Brief: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Dominate Pickleball
Andre Agassi shared how playing pickleball helped him lose 40 pounds and surprised him with its physical and mental challenges. Agassi and wife Steffi Graf, both avid players, won the 2023 Pickleball Slam and will compete again in 2025. Agassi’s experience highlights the sport’s growing popularity and benefits.
ALSO READ: Is Pickleball the Future of Tennis Clubs? Andre Agassi Shares His Vision!
