Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi Support Pickleball: Pickleball continues to capture hearts worldwide, and now, tennis legend Ivan Lendl has joined its ranks. The 64-year-old, an 8-time Grand Slam champion, was recently seen competing in the Daytona Beach Open pickleball tournament, further solidifying the sport’s rising popularity. In a conversation with the media, Lendl shared his thoughts on his new passion, saying,
“I’m a little too old to play tennis and I run too much, so I picked up the doubles and half of a pickleball court. I liked it. At first, I hated it too, but then I played a few times and changed my mind.” – (Ivan Lendl)
Lendl’s Storied Tennis Career
Lendl, who retired from tennis in 1994, is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest players. During his illustrious career, he won 94 titles, the fourth most in tennis history. Beyond his success, Lendl played a key role in coaching stars like Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev, helping shape the next generation of champions.
Now, his entry into pickleball has fans reminiscing about his epic tennis rivalries, particularly with Andre Agassi. Their clashes on the tennis court were intense, with Lendl winning only two of their eight encounters.
Memories of the Lendl-Agassi Rivalry
Pickleball has sparked nostalgia among fans for Lendl and Agassi’s memorable matches. One of their most talked-about moments came during the 1988 US Open semifinal when Lendl complained about Agassi’s grunting.
“Andre grunts, and that’s fine. But when he goes for a big shot he grunts much harder… if it’s a winner and you have no play on the ball, that’s fine, but when you have a play on the ball it throws off your timing because you just hear something different. I don’t think he does it on purpose, but I don’t think he realizes how disturbing it is.” – (Ivan Lendl)
Agassi responded by questioning the referee’s decision to address his grunting during the match. Their rivalry also included sharp remarks, with Agassi once recalling Lendl describing his game as “just a haircut and forehand.”
Agassi on Pickleball’s Future
Agassi, another tennis icon who has embraced pickleball, has dismissed concerns about the sport overshadowing tennis.
“Not only can they both play nice in the sandbox, but I think they can enhance one another. Anybody that loves pickleball loves to play. Anybody that loves tennis loves to play but also loves to watch.” – (Andre Agassi)
Agassi believes pickleball could revive underutilized tennis clubs by incorporating pickleball courts, adding,
“There are a lot of tennis clubs that don’t get used enough. That, they can convert half pickleball, and then all of a sudden it (may) bring tennis clubs alive again…Pickleball, on the other hand, requires much less space. I believe pickleball will continue to grow fast, but I don’t think it will cannibalise tennis in any way.” – (Andre Agassi)
Agassi also spoke about how he became involved in pickleball through events like the Pickleball Slam.
“I played a lot of years of tennis, and I still play some. I love it, but it’s a little harder on the body, too, with the rotation…I got into [pickleball] because I did this event, you know, the Pickleball Slam with me and [Andy] Roddick and [Michael] Chang and John [McEnroe]. I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll pick up the paddle, and I’ll see what’s up with it.” – (Andre Agassi)
He described pickleball as addictive and enjoyable, especially with the right group of people.
“And it’s pretty addicting right away, you know? But I didn’t really get addicted to it until after we competed. Then I was like, ‘Oh my God, if you get the right group of people together, this is a lot of fun.’ …Then I just kept it up. I actually enjoy the competition.” – (Andre Agassi)
Looking Ahead
Agassi and his wife, Steffi Graf, are set to compete against Andy Roddick and Eugenie Bouchard in Pickleball Slam 3. Fans are now speculating whether Lendl and Agassi might rekindle their rivalry on the pickleball court.
As pickleball grows, with a projected market valuation of $1.82 billion by 2025, its impact on sports culture continues to expand. For legends like Lendl and Agassi, the sport offers a fresh chapter, bringing new challenges and opportunities to relive iconic moments.
News in Brief: Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi Support Pickleball
Tennis legend Ivan Lendl has embraced pickleball, recently competing in the Daytona Beach Open. Lendl joins fellow icon Andre Agassi in promoting the sport’s growth.
While Agassi predicts pickleball will enhance tennis, fans speculate a renewed rivalry between the two legends, highlighting pickleball’s rising popularity and its expanding influence on sports culture.
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