Tennis greats Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, and Michael Chang have quit tennis to dedicate their time to Pickleball! Kidding!
But these 4 all-star tennis players are going to compete for a $1,000,000 purse and play in the inaugural Pickleball Slam at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL on April 2, 2023.
It is going to be a great event and shown exclusively on ESPN, immediately preceding the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.
What is the Tournament Format?
There will be 3 matches for these legends of tennis:
- Singles Match #1: Andy Roddick vs. Michael Chang– 1 point for the winner
- Singles Match #2: Andre Agassi vs. John McEnroe –1 point for the winner
- Doubles Match #3: McEnroe/Chang vs. Roddick/Agassi – 2 points for the winning team
Tickets go on sale on February 10th. It is going to be fun, and I can’t wait!
Are you interested in playing? Well, there’s also the Amateur Slam, where you can win $10,000 and play with the pros.
The Amateur Slam
Starting on March 31, 192 Pickleball players (96 doubles teams) will compete for a $10,000 team prize PLUS the winning team will get to play with two of the tennis legends before the main event.
How cool is that? Win $10k and get to test your skills against some of the best ever to play the game of tennis!
The amateur competition will take place over two days. Don’t ask me how the brackets work but I am going to guess the winning team might be quite spent by the time the final stake place.
I’ve played in a few tournaments, and the bigger ones are a testament to skill and durability. Sometimes, it is almost advantageous to come up through the loser’s bracket, where you play fewer games.
The entry fee is $2,000 and due to the expected popularity of the event, they will hold a lottery to choose which teams get to compete that weekend.
Celebrity Hype
The fun has already begun between the tennis greats, with each on posting their thoughts on the upcoming match:
Andre Agassi
Here’s Andre talking smack to Johnny McEnroe and Michael Chang:
I loved watching Andre Agassi play. He had a flare for his attire and continues to have a captivating smile. Some favorite quotes include:
- “I think one of the greatest joys I have now in my career and in my profession is to be playing at an age where I can appreciate it more than I used to… It’s a whole different lens you look through the older you get.”
- “Sometimes it’s just harder to remind yourself about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it… Other times, you have a great desire for it, but physically you’re not responding the way you want.
That presents other challenges. Then sometimes it all comes together.”
John McEnroe
Of course, the biggest smack tennis talker of all time will not be outdone and let Andre know:
If you watch tennis and or keep track of the Bad Boy of Tennis, you know he’s not a fan of Pickleball. In a recent interview he said,
“You know, I’m not a convert to pickleball; I think it sucks. But you know, I play with my friends.”
Some favorite (non-Pickleball) quotes:
- “If you want to be a tennis player, then mold yourself on Roger Federer. I won three Wimbledon titles and I wish I could play like him.”
- “I think it’s the mark of a great player to be confident in tough situations.”
- “My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses.”
- “What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when you are not playing that well.”
Michael Chang
Michael is ready and pumped for some revenge:
While Michael peaked at #2, he was a top 10 player for many years and was known for his determination and perseverance.
As a tennis player, he had great speed and is probably best remembered for winning the French Open Grand Slam at the age of17 (I remember watching that great match).
Some memorable Michael Chang quotes include:
- “You can work really hard, but if you’re not training in the right way, you’re not going to improve and get to the level that you want to.”
- “I’m a competitive person, and it is in my nature to try hard in every match I play.”
- “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try again.”
- “As an athlete, I used my speed, agility, and quickness to go out and play against the big guys.”
Andy Roddick
Speaking of watching Michael Chang winning the French Open, here’s Andy throwing down some fun Pickleball bravado:
Andy has been a voice for Pickleball, and he’s even played with Andre Agassi so he may come in with the best skills.
Known for his charitable endeavors, here are some quotes from this tennis great:
- “Years from now, when people hear my name, I hope they don’t think of tennis. I want them to think of the kids whose futures are filled with possibility.”
- “Most players who play tennis love the game. But I think you also have to respect it. You want to do everything you can in your power to do your best.
And for me, I know I get insane guilt if I go home at the end of the day and don’t feel I’ve done everything I can. If I know, I could have done something better. I have this uneasy feeling.” - “I do understand that when someone gives you a[expletive] load of money, you take that money. Someone like Larry Ellison wants to invest in his event and make it the biggest possible, and he gets stopped by the ATP.
If you’re a start-up, what would make you want to navigate through that and to go through that firing line? How can you step into tennis with any confidence? It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
Bring it guys!
What to Look for in the Match
For those of us who play a lot of Pickleball, this will be our opportunity to see how a tennis pro adapts to the unique challenges of this addictive sport.
Some things to watch for:
- Dinking vs. Banging – any seasoned Pickleballer knows the key to controlling the game is getting to the Non-Volley Zone and being a great dinker. But these guys are used to playing a power, banging game, and will they be able to drop a 3rdshot into the kitchen, or will it be just a contest of hard shots?
Watch the beginning of the matches to see who has a feel for the soft game and if that propels them to the winner’s podium. - Kitchen Smack – one of the aspects of Pickleball I love is that you’re only 14’ away from your opponent, which can lead to a lot of chatter during a game. I like to talk between points because life is more fun when everyone is having a great time.
Since they will be competing for their favorite charity, I fully expect some witty banter and smack to bethrown out by the 4 guys. I suspect they will be mic’d up, and since they each other very well, they can easily joke while playing.
Paddle Selection – I will be interested to see what paddles they use. Of course, it may be dictated by their sponsors but hopefully, we’ll get to see a few different paddles and how they perform with them. - Pickleball Momentum – Once a laughing matter, Pickleball’s popularity can no longer be debated, and this event will surely amplify the sport and open eyes to those who are resistant to playing(don’t be because it is a fun and entertaining sport)
Enjoy the Match!
Pickleball Slam FAQ
Where Can I Watch the Pickleball Slam?
The Pickleball Slam will be televised exclusively on ESPN, immediately preceding the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship on April 2, 2023at 12 PM EST.
Can I Get Tickets to the Pickleball Slam?
Yes, tickets go on sale on February 10, 2023.
Who created The Pickleball Slam?
The tournament was created by Horizon Sports &Experiences in a 5-year partnership with InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and Hard Rock. As Co-CEO, David Levy, put it, “Pickleball is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon – experiencing a meteoric rise across genders, age groups, geographies, and income levels.
The Slam, a multi-year partnership with the Hard Rock, represents the convergence of culture and sport, giving brands an opportunity to engage with passionate fans and amateur players as pickleball continues to gain popularity. We look forward to bringing together four of America's most iconic tennis legends for this groundbreaking competition, which heralds a new milestone for the fastest-growing sport in America."
Who is Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E)?
HS&E, an affiliate of Horizon Media - the nation's largest media agency according to AdAge Data Center 2022 - provides a comprehensive suite of sports and experiential marketing services.
Spearheaded by co-CEOs David Levy and Chris Weil, HS&E specializes in IP creation &monetization, strategic advisory & consulting as well as sales sponsorship across traditional media rights all the way through Metaverse and Web3.0activation (bonus points if you know what Web3.0 activation is without doing a Google search).
Who is InsideOut Sport + Entertainment (ISE)?
With a foundation of excellence rooted in the legacy of former No.1 and Hall-of-Fame tennis player Jim Courier (Jim was ranked #1 in the world of tennis for 58 weeks back in 1992 and 1993…the guy was a battler and won 4 Grand Slams), InsideOut Sports + Entertainment (ISE) has established itself as an independent event producer with unmatched success since its inception in 2004.
With over 300 events hosted across 44 states and 12countries to date (including the Champions Series), ISE stands firm on their commitment to philanthropy - having donated more than $5 million for various charitable causes alongside each public venture they produce or own.
What is the resort Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood?
The famous “Guitar Hotel” is the flagship resort and hotel of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It boasts a huge casino with more than 27,000slot machines, over 200 table games (craps anyone?), and a 45-table poker room. It sits on 18 acres of land and has over1,200 luxury hotel rooms.
Last year, it ranked #5 in the world for gross revenue.
