Andre Agassi retired from the sport of tennis in 2006 and has since redirected his passion to pickleball. Most recently, the former World No. 1 encouraged fans to watch and engage with Major League Pickleball while sneaking in a hilarious shoutout to Jack Sock.
Agassi first discovered pickleball a few years ago when fellow tennis player Andy Roddick invited him to a fundraising match. The American was soon hooked, and the sport has now become a part of his daily life.
On the other hand, Jack Sock picked up pickleball in 2023 and has opted to focus on the fast-growing sport professionally, after calling time on his tennis career. Now, the 31-year-old is a part of the New York Hustlers team in Major League Pickleball and will be in action on Saturday, September 21 against the New Jersey 5s.
Andre Agassi encouraged fans to watch the exciting encounter in a video on Instagram, sneaking in Sock’s name multiple times.
“If you don't think pickleball is a great sport to watch, then you don't know Jack… Jack Sock. Not only is Jack a top ranked tennis champ, these days he's also a top, DUPR rated pickleball champ. And he's representing the New York Hustlers at MLP, New York City this weekend. So anyone that thinks a tennis player can't make it to the top of a DUPR rating, I say, put a sock in it, a Jack Sock,” Agassi said.
Andre Agassi partners with JOOLA to ‘elevate the future’ of pickleball
Outside of encouraging fans to engage in pickleball matches, Andre Agassi is also consistently working behind the scenes to ensure the growth of the sport. On August 30, the former tennis player announced a partnership with JOOLA, a global leader in the sport, to create a ‘groundbreaking line of pickleball equipment, and accessories’.
Speaking on the partnership, Agassi stated,
“Pickleball is not just a sport; it’s a community, and it’s growing at an incredible pace. Partnering with JOOLA allows me to bring my experience and dedication to pickleball. Together, we’re going to create something special that reflects our commitment to quality, innovation, and performance.”
Earlier this year, Andre Agassi showed off his pickleball skills on the court, participating in the Pickleball Slam in February in Hollywood, Florida. The American partnered with his wife and fellow tennis legend, Steffi Graf, for a mixed doubles match, beating John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova 11-7, 13-11.
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