In a moment that pickleball fans won’t soon forget, tennis legend Andre Agassi made his pro pickleball debut Wednesday night alongside world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships.
The superstar duo delivered a thrilling three-set win in their exhibition match against teenage talents Stevie Petropouleas (13) and Tristan Dussault (16). Agassi and Waters took the first set 11-8, dropped the second 11-9, but stormed back to clinch the third 11-7 in front of a packed and energized crowd.
“When Anna Leigh Waters asks you to do anything, you say yes,” Agassi said on Tuesday before the match. “That’s how much I respect what she’s managed to do in this great game.”
The 18-year-old Waters has long been one of the sport’s brightest stars, but even she admitted that teaming up with Agassi was a surreal experience.
“Honestly, my mom and I were the ones who came up with the idea,” Waters said. “I was like, ‘Andre’s been playing so well. We watched him on YouTube. This will be so much fun.’”
The partnership isn’t just about star power — it’s also about performance. And despite a few early jitters, Agassi proved he’s no stranger to pressure.
“When was the last time you ever did something for the first time?” Agassi said. “I'm going to categorize it as — I’m going to have more fun [than Waters]."
The crowd certainly had fun. The match delivered both high-level competition and plenty of entertainment.
Waters, who made her debut at the age of 11 with her grandfather at the same tournament, saw the moment as a full-circle milestone. “Seven years later, I am here playing with Andre Agassi, which is pretty crazy.”
As for Agassi, the experience may not end here. “A win for me will be when this is over, that Anna Leigh looks at me and says, ‘Do you want to play again?’” he said.
Waters didn’t hesitate. “Run it back. Run it back next year.”
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