On April 15 in Hollywood, Florida, an exciting night of pickleball takes center stage. 

World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters will join forces with former tennis star turned elite pickleball player Genie Bouchard to face off against tennis legends Andre Agassi and James Blake in Pickleball Slam 4—a thrilling battle of the sexes.

Waters is delighted to participate in the event.

“I’m so excited to be playing in the Pickleball Slam. I’ve never done a battle of the sexes, so I’m honestly thrilled to be a part of it,” said Waters. “I’m excited to be playing with Genie and excited to go against Andre because we played together at the US Open last year, so it only makes sense to play against him now. It’s going to be great.” 

“I’ve been involved in professional sports for the better part of three decades. After my playing career ended, I founded InsideOut Sports + Entertainment with Jim Courier and in 2023, with our partners at Horizon Sports & Experiences, we saw the opportunity to create a unique event that spoke to the surging interest in pickleball,” said Venison.

“What’s different about pickleball compared with tennis or golf, two of my other favorite sports, is that pickleball is comparatively easy to become proficient at. The learning curve is fast and it’s extremely accessible as there are courts everywhere. The amateur participation has exploded because of this easy entry and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.” 

“Pickleball’s growth has been evident at every level – from a surge in grassroots participation nationwide to the rapid elevation of the professional game. As pickleball has evolved, so has The Slam,” explained Venison. “We’ve expanded the event, taken it on the road to Vegas, and continually raised the bar by introducing new and exciting talent. All of that momentum has led us to our most compelling moment yet: a three-time Pickleball Slam champion, Andre Agassi, stepping onto the court to take on Anna Leigh Waters, the very best pickleball player in the world.”

“I’ve always believed in the power of premium destination programming, and the Pickleball Slam was born out of that idea. Big names, meaningful competition, strong distribution, and real money on the line,” said Levy. “We knew legendary tennis icons like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick and others would deliver. The names on the court really matter.”

Another major draw is the substantial prize pool, with $1 million on the line adding the perfect level of high-stakes intensity to the event.

“The money and the exposure on ESPN elevates this to a different level. It’s high stakes,” said Levy. “We’re in primetime with a national television audience and no one wants to lose. It’s about way more than just bragging rights. This is a true showcase for the sport.”

Additionally, this marks the first year the event will feature a battle-of-the-sexes format, adding an entirely new dimension to the competition.

“This is more than just a battle of men vs. women. This is a battle of youth vs. experience and tennis legends vs. pickleball pros. What I can tell you is both teams are taking this incredibly seriously and have been training for this moment. We are going to see a different Andre and Genie than we did last year,” explained Levy. “If Anna Leigh and Genie lose, I think it will be a shock to the pickleball community. If Andre doesn’t defend his title with James, I think it will demonstrate just how good the pros are. This is truly must-see television.”

Click here to buy tickets and tune in live on ESPN on April 15 at 7pm EST to watch.