Tennis legend Andre Agassi expressed his admiration for World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters during the Pickleball World Championships on Saturday.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion, who was in attendance at Brookhaven Country Club, appeared on PickleballTV, where he was asked if he believed Waters would capture her 38th career Triple Crown on Championship Sunday.
“Oh my gosh, bet against Anna Leigh at your own peril. Did you see her on Wednesday night [in the Celebrity Pickleball Showdown]? She couldn’t even lay off Dirk Nowitzki, for God’s sake. What’s up with that? She’s running into the stands trying to get the ball back. She can’t help herself,” praised Agassi.
“But with that being said, watching what she’s done with Ben, watching what she’s done on her own, watching the professionalism that she’s brought to enhancing her game is absolutely remarkable. Watching her ball control is like a joke. Watching her court coverage, for her size, is just impressive. It just makes me wish I started this 20 years ago.”
Agassi, who competed alongside Waters in mixed doubles at the US Open Pickleball Championships, knows all about her talent. Waters and Genie Bouchard will face Agassi and fellow tennis legend James Blake in a gender doubles showdown for a $1M prize purse.
“I look at it not as a battle of the sexes as much as a celebration of pickleball. I’ve played with Anna Leigh, I’ve practiced with her, she’s like the GOAT. We may get toyed with, but I know we’re going to have a great time celebrating the fact that anybody can get out there and enjoy this game,” said Agassi. “I look at it like a celebration of pickleball more than a battle of the sexes,” he concluded.
About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
About Pickleball World Ranking:
PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.
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