Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz at a pickleball event in New York City on Thursday.
Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz at a pickleball event in New York City on Thursday. The Kitchen Pickleball - Instagram

Warming up for the US Open with pickleball? We love to see it

Some of the biggest names in tennis participated in pickleball events across New York City on Thursday ahead of the upcoming US Open.

Warming up for the final Grand Slam of the season with America's fastest-growing sport? Sounds good to us. We love to see it.


Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Barbora Krejcikova joined Callie Smith at The HEAD NYC Mash Up for a little indoor pickle.

All eyes were on Djokovic following his less-than-enthusiastic comments about pickleball and padel at Wimbledon last month, but he appeared to enjoy having a paddle in hand and getting a feel for the game.

Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe also hit the court.

 


Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys, and Alex de Minaur took our beloved sport to new heights when they visited the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere - The Edge NYC - for a friendly match to support sun safety, in partnership with La Roche-Posay.

Following the match, La Roche-Posay presented a $50,000 donation to the American Cancer Society to support the fight against skin cancer.

 


Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz were on the court with Miami Pickleball Club (MLP) members Eric Oncins and Milan Rane at an event sponsored by the Major League Pickleball squad.

It appears that Alcaraz, in particular, already has his pickleball skills on lock.

Caroline Wozniacki and Elena Rybakina in attendance as well.

 

 


Earlier in the week, tennis legend Andre Agassi played pickleball at Life Time PENN 1 to celebrate a new equipment and accessories partnership with JOOLA. 

He was joined by Brooke Buckner, Kate Fahey, Ryan Sherry and Genie Bouchard, former NBA star Kris Humphries, and Life Time Founder, Chairman and CEO Bahram Akradi.

“I love the mental outlet and I like the physical outlet [of pickleball]. And I like the fact that it's so community-driven. No matter what level you are at, when you come into the game, you enjoy it and you get better,“ noted Agassi, who retired from tennis after the 2006 US Open. “As much as so many people are playing, I still see it in the infancy and I think it's only going to grow.“