Tennis legend Maria Sharapova has introduced her return to the court docket, becoming a member of fellow legend John McEnroe in a pickleball match in opposition to Andre Agassi and his associate, Steffi Graf.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
The former world No. 1 shared a video to social media confirming her return to the court docket for the second working of the Pickleball Slam, which might be performed on the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida.
“I’m playing pickleball,” the five-time Slam winner stated within the video.
“Not just any pickleball, I am playing with John McEnroe against Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
“Dare I say I’m getting a little competitive. Slightly nervous and anxious.”
The match, which is performed as sole doubles match, is performed for a USD$1m money prize, and final 12 months featured McEnroe alongside 1989 French Open winner Michael Chang in opposition to Agassi and 2003 US Open winner Andy Roddick.
Pickleball, a cut-down model of tennis performed on a smaller court docket with plastic balls and paddles, has exploded in reputation with the Professional Pickleball Association just lately signing ex-world No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard to the $20m tour.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport within the US with over 36 million gamers, and the has high-profile staff house owners together with Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka, and LeBron James.
According to the MLP, the game is exploding in reputation in Australia with an estimated 25,000 Australians already enjoying.
MLP Australia will start on September 8 in Brisbane earlier than Melbourne and the Sydney occasions later within the 12 months, with near one million {dollars} in money prizes over the subsequent 12 months.
Pacific Pickleball’s 33 elite native gamers throughout groups in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast will now play beneath the brand new Major League Pickleball Australia banner.
Agassi and Graf stated they have been hooked on the game after careers on the high {of professional} tennis.
“After Andy and I took home the hardware at the first Pickleball Slam, I said I would be playing pickleball as long as I can walk — that’s how much I enjoy this game,” Agassi stated in a press launch for the second working of the Pickleball Slam.
“Naturally, I am so excited to share this experience with one of the best tennis players, my wife.”
“When I watched the inaugural Pickleball Slam in April and stepped onto the court, I was hooked,” Graf stated.
“Andre and I can’t wait to get back out on the court together to face off against Maria and John.”
Sharapova retired from skilled tennis at 32 having reached the highest of the world rankings, 5 Grand Slam titles and over $60 million in profession prizemoney earnings.
She was the best paid feminine athlete on the earth for over a decade, and in 2022 gave delivery to a son with British entrepreneur Alexander Gilkes, named Theodore.
Source: www.news.com.au
