88°F
weather icon Clear
Las Vegas, NV
Kats

Tennis legends seek Las Vegas pickleball prize

Tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are determined to take over a different type of court. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Former tennis stars Steffi Graf, left, and Andre Agassi pose during the opening night of the Sp ...
Former tennis stars Steffi Graf, left, and Andre Agassi pose during the opening night of the Sphere, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Former Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi and Evonne Goolagong Cawley walk with ball kids carryi ...
Former Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi and Evonne Goolagong Cawley walk with ball kids carrying the women’s, Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the men’s Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophies ahead of the start of Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Stefanie Graf and Andre Agassi attend the Keep Memory Alive "Power of Love Gala" at MGM Grand G ...
Stefanie Graf and Andre Agassi attend the Keep Memory Alive "Power of Love Gala" at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)
More Stories
Kesha, left, and Macklemore perform onstage during the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mob ...
Macklemore: ‘Sometimes I slip up,’ as Las Vegas festival adds performers
FILE - Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs during the Louder Than Life Music Festival in ...
Top Vegas rock stations say ‘Good Riddance’ to band after rant
Dita Von Teese poses for a portrait ahead of her new residency, debuting at Voltaire, at The Ve ...
‘Queen of Burlesque’ says she wants to abandon ‘burlesque’
Lady Gaga album announced — but what about Las Vegas?
By / Las Vegas Review-Journal
September 24, 2024 - 9:34 am
 

Tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are determined to take over a different type of court.

The married superstar couple are competing in Slam 3, the third edition of Pickleball Slam from Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. The couple square off against tennis Hall of Fame member Andy Roddick and former No. 5 pro Genie Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist.

The event is set for 1 p.m. Pacific time Feb. 16, to be telecast on ESPN. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at axs.com.

The winner receives a $1 million purse (along with the coveted bragging rights) and advances to the next Pickeball Slam event, details to be announced.

Agassi and Graf are teamed for the first time in the Pickleball Slam series. Agassi and Roddick were partners in the inaugural Pickleball Slam in February 2023.

Thus, we have drama.

“I can’t wait to return with Steffi and defend our title in February at Slam 3,” Agassi said in a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity to play in my hometown of Las Vegas, where the stakes are high, and the energy is electric. In this city, the odds are always in our favor, and I almost feel a little sorry for Andy and Genie.”

Roddick, too, is a grand-slam trash talker.

“When Andre and I won the inaugural Pickleball Slam, I ended up doing most of the heavy lifting, so this time I’m excited to team up with Genie,” said Roddick. “For Slam 3, I’m actually more concerned about Steffi — she’s a force to be reckoned with! Genie and I are ready to defy the odds. After all, this is Las Vegas, a city that knows a thing or two about unexpected upsets.”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.

THE LATEST