US Open Pickleball Championships 2024: Andre Agassi Joins Action in Naples

The 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships commenced on April 11 in East Naples, Florida, with the competition scheduled to run through April 18.

Founded in 2016, the tournament has established itself as one of the most significant events in the sport, drawing annual crowds of up to 50,000 spectators.

The event takes place amid a period of rapid expansion for pickleball in the United States. Described as a hybrid of tennis and pingpong, the sport has grown 311% over a three-year period, reaching a player base of more than 13 million people in the U.S., according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

High-Profile Athletic Transitions

The championships have previously attracted world-renowned athletes transitioning from other racquet sports, most notably tennis icon Andre Agassi. Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, made his professional pickleball debut at the event on April 30, 2025.

Competing in the mixed pro division, Agassi partnered with 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters. The match occurred one day after Agassi’s 55th birthday. The duo secured a victory against a pair of teenage opponents with a final score of 11-8, 9-11, 11-7.

While Agassi won his opening match, his professional debut run concluded with a loss in the second round on May 1, 2025.

Agassi’s entry into the professional ranks followed a period of increased visibility in the sport, including participation in made-for-TV exhibitions and the promotion of pickleball equipment through social media. Agassi has been a vocal advocate for the social appeal and accessibility of the game.

Impact of Anna Leigh Waters

The partnership between Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters was designed to increase the visibility of the sport. Waters, the world No. 1 player in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, sought out Agassi as a partner for the event to help grow the sport.

Waters has emerged as one of the most marketable figures in pickleball. According to Forbes, she earned more than $3 million in 2024. In addition to her mixed doubles appearance with Agassi during the 2025 championships, she competed in the women’s pro doubles division with her mother, Leigh Waters.

The mother-daughter duo entered the 2025 competition as the defending champions, having won the 2024 US Open Championships.

Agassi’s Broader Sporting Career

Agassi’s transition to pickleball follows a distinguished career in professional tennis, from which he retired in 2006. He completed a career Grand Slam after winning the title at Roland Garros in 1999.

Beyond his playing career in both tennis and pickleball, Agassi has moved into sports media. In 2025, he served as a studio analyst for TNT Sports during the semifinals and finals of the French Open.