The Pickleball Slam is just around the corner, with tennis legends Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Michael Chang set to square off in a first-of-its-kind pickleball matchup, competing for a $1 million dollar purse.
Created and produced by Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E), and InsideOut Sports & Entertainment (ISE), the inaugural Pickleball Slam will be held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. This must-see sports spectacle takes place on Sunday, April 2 and will be televised live exclusively on ESPN at 12pm (EST), with the NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship to follow.
According to the Pickleball Slam's official website, players will also be competing for a $100,000 Charitable Donation ($25k/player). Donations will be gamified throughout the Slam at players’ discretion. (Example: “Bet” $10k on holding serve.)
There will be three matches to determine the winner:
• Match (1) – Roddick vs. Chang – 1 point for winner
• Match (2) – McEnroe vs. Agassi – 1 point for winner
• Match (3) – McEnroe/Chang vs Roddick/Agassi – 2 points for winner
Tiebreak is determined by rotating singles matches to 11.
“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,” said David Levy, Co-CEO, HS&E. “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.”
The weekend of events will also feature the Amateur Pickleball Slam Tournament, consisting of top amateur teams of two playing on March 31 and April 1 at Plantation Central Park in Plantation, Florida for a $10,000 team prize. Winners of the Amateur Pickleball Slam Tournament will also have the chance to compete against the tennis legends.
The four competitors have eye-popping resumes on the tennis court.
You have pop-culture icon Andre Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam Champion and Olympic gold medalist. Andy Roddick is the last American to win a Grand Slam (2003) and the most recent to hold the world No. 1 ranking. Michael Chang has 34 singles titles including seven Masters, and John McEnroe's larger-than-life personality, combined with his 77 singles titles on the ATP Tour (along with 78 doubles titles) make him a top draw wherever he goes.
Andy Roddick seems to be extra fired up in the days leading up to the event.
