An electrifying “Battle of the Sexes” unfolded on Wednesday night at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

Tennis greats Andre Agassi and James Blake faced off against top-ranked pickleball pro Anna Leigh Waters and rising star Genie Bouchard, competing for a $1 million prize.

Right from the start, the crowd’s support leaned heavily toward the women. The match opened with singles play between Waters and Blake, using rally scoring to 15, and early on, Blake’s trademark forehand proved to be a tough test for Waters.

But if there’s one thing that defines Waters, it’s her resilience. She mounted an impressive comeback, claiming both games with scores of 15–13 and 15–5.

"It was really fun playing against James in singles. I was happy to get that W for pickleball," said Waters. "That match is the one that mattered the most to me because it was just me on the court. I had to keep my singles winning streak going." 

Blake, meanwhile, relished the opportunity to go head-to-head with Waters in a singles matchup.

"I wasn’t intimidated going in, but I had a healthy respect, and she proved it. I had my opportunities in the first game and she took them away from me. I got a little tight because I haven’t been in these kinds of situations before," he said.

"She proved why she’s the best, and I thought my only real advantage would be my speed and size. I was trying to use that to my advantage, but she’s so precise and accurate, and she’s able to have plenty of variety and take my biggest weapon away from me. It was funny that the 19-year-old had way more experience than the 46-year-old, and she showed it."

Next up, Bouchard faced Agassi in a head-to-head showdown, with the two delivering a tightly contested match. Bouchard held her own and put up a strong fight, but Agassi ultimately prevailed with a scoreline of 15–4, 11–15, 15–6.

The main event featured mixed doubles to 21, as Agassi and Blake teamed up against Waters and Bouchard. The opening game was one of the most thrilling displays in pickleball, packed with extended rallies, intense dink exchanges, Waters’ occasional lob serve, and even a few fortunate net cords—pure highlight-reel material.

In the end, Agassi and Blake secured the win, 25–23, 21–16, marking Agassi’s fourth Pickleball Slam title. 

"Anna Leigh and Genie pushed us for sure. Our strategy was that we wanted Anna Leigh to touch the ball as little as possible. It’s amazing what she can do with that ball," said Agassi. "She’s proved it for her whole career, and she proves it every time she’s in front of me. It’s magic what she can do with the paddle face."

Despite the loss, the atmosphere remained lighthearted and fun.

All four players were smiling, joking with one another, and clearly enjoying the chance to compete on such a big stage.

"I had a blast playing with Genie," said Waters. "I have a new friend on tour. This was such a great event for pickleball."

“This was marketed as a "Battle of the Sexes," but it was really a celebration of pickleball," concluded Agassi. 

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