Since pickleball’s surge in popularity in 2020, it has developed a well-publicized rivalry with tennis. Noise complaints, court-space disputes, and tennis traditionalists dismissing pickleball as “baby tennis” have all fueled tension between the two racket sports.

Yet tennis superstars Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner are set to compete in the second annual pickleball exhibition match ahead of the Australian Open, which raised the question: is the long-running feud between pickleball and tennis finally coming to an end?

Osaka and Sinner are just the latest in a growing list of active professional tennis players to pick up a paddle for a pickleball exhibition.

In fact, it increasingly feels as though tennis and pickleball have begun to wave the white flag—especially over the past year.

And with former World No. 1s Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf among pickleball’s most outspoken advocates, it was only a matter of time before even the staunchest tennis purists took notice.

Maroon 5 lead guitarist James Valentine once described himself as a tennis snob until he picked up a pickleball paddle. Now a full-fledged convert, Valentine has a clear message for the tennis world: stop the hate.

“With people like Andre Agassi coming over from pro tennis, I’d say to tennis players that if it’s good enough for Agassi, then it’s good enough for you,” he said. “So let’s stop the hate.”

When prominent tennis players such as Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock, and Donald Young signed contracts with the PPA Tour in 2024, they were met with heavy criticism from tennis fans, with pickleball often becoming the punchline. However, by boldly making the switch, and speaking positively about both sports, these athletes have helped narrow the divide between tennis and pickleball.

Bouchard recently provided her perspective on the Pickleballers podcast.

“I think it’s better if we’re playing tennis or pickleball as opposed to just sitting inside at home on the couch playing video games. I think they’re both positive,” she explained. “I understand the traditionalists, but there’s tennis courts near my house and they were empty all the time. They turned into pickleball courts and they are busy from morning to night, so you have to see both sides. This is better for our community as a whole. Stop being so siloed in tennis, and focus on the greater good. Let’s love both. Let’s all be friends.”

Bouchard continued competing in tennis tournaments until her retirement last year, openly sharing how much she enjoyed balancing competition in both sports. Young, meanwhile, reached a career high in tennis in 2024, finishing as the runner-up in mixed doubles at the US Open—an achievement that came while juggling a full PPA tournament schedule.

At the 2024 French Open, Jay Devilliers actively promoted pickleball and even took to the court with Martina Navratilova, who had previously been one of the sport’s most outspoken critics.

The Tennis Channel also signaled an early belief in pickleball by investing in the sport and launching Pickleballtv, recognizing its rapid growth and long-term potential. If the broadcasters believe in coexistence, perhaps the players should too.

In 2024, both Sock and Bouchard faced criticism from the tennis community for transitioning to pickleball. Yet in 2025, the current World No. 1 in women’s singles, Aryna Sabalenka, attended MLP New York City to watch matches and connect with pickleball professionals like Anna Bright and Kate Fahey, another sign that attitudes may be shifting.

Last October, top tennis professional Danielle Collins released a signature pickleball paddle with Tecnifibre, and she’s far from alone. Dozens of elite tennis players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Venus Williams, Taylor Fritz, John McEnroe, and John Isner, have stepped onto the pickleball court for exhibition matches and casual recreational play. Isner even took it a step further, competing in a PPA tournament.

Agassi has emerged as one of the most influential voices advocating for harmony between the two sports. The former World No. 1 tennis player regularly participates in high-profile events like The Pickleball Slam and collaborates with leading paddle brand JOOLA on his own signature paddle.

Above all, Agassi has been vocal about his admiration for both tennis and pickleball, reinforcing the idea that the two sports can coexist rather than compete.

“I used to be very good at tennis, and there’s an assumption that I think I’m really good at pickleball. But it’s not even about that. It’s about how much I enjoy it, how much it’s added to my life, how good it is for the mind, body, and how good it is for the community,” he explained. “That being said, I love tennis. I think it’s the Mount Everest of racket sports. But the idea of any tennis person hating on pickleball is just irresponsible to what this adds to people’s lives.”

As Valentine put it, if pickleball is good enough for tennis legends, then it should be good enough for recreational tennis critics too.

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