Third edition of 'Pickleball Slam' heads to Las Vegas featuring Agassi, Graf, Roddick and Bouchard
Pickleball takes center stage in Las Vegas in early 2025.
Pickleball Slam 3: The Duel in the Desert will be held at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on Sunday, Feb. 16 as Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf face Andy Roddick and Genie Bouchard in mixed doubles.
The event, which features a $1 million prize purse, will be broadcast live on ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET/ 1:00 p.m. PT.
Bouchard, of course, is the lone professional pickleball player among the group as she regularly competes on the PPA Tour.
Agassi, meanwhile, is seeking his third straight Pickleball Slam crown after claiming the inaugural clash alongside Roddick in 2023, and adding another title with Graf this year.
"It’s an incredible opportunity to play in my hometown of Las Vegas, where the stakes are high, and the energy is electric," said Agassi in a statement. "In this city, the odds are always in our favor, and I almost feel a little sorry for Andy and Genie."
That little chirp didn't faze Roddick one bit.
He's eager to face his good buddy.
"When Andre and I won the inaugural Pickleball Slam, I ended up doing most of the heavy lifting, so this time I'm excited to team up with Genie," said Roddick. "For Slam 3, I’m actually more concerned about Steffi—she's a force to be reckoned with! Genie and I are ready to defy the odds. After all, this is Las Vegas, a city that knows a thing or two about unexpected upsets."
Pickleball Slam has certainly generated excitement.
And it has the numbers to prove it.
The April 2023 edition featuring Agassi and Roddick battling John McEnroe and Michael Chang recorded an average of 669,000 viewers and peaked at 796,000 viewers.
The February 2024 edition featuring Agassi and Graf facing McEnroe and Maria Sharapova recorded an average of 596,000 viewers and peaked at 990,000 viewers.
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