“Pain in the a**,”John McEnroe and Andre Agassi revive rivalry as they call each other out during intense Pickleball clash
The pair specifically teased each other throughout the exhibition match
The maiden Pickleball Slam was witness to much excitement as well as rivalry. Andre Agassi and John McEnroe engaged in an intense doubles match along with respective teammates Andy Roddick and Michael Chang. The Slam was finally won by Agassi and Roddick after they won a single and doubles match.
During the exhibition match, McEnroe and Agassi teased and heckled each other in the usual fashion. The American, who is known for his on-court arguments and antics, was in his element. Agassi, on the other hand, also playfully called McEnroe names, giving in to his reputation of having breakdowns on the court.
Pickleball has been gaining traction on a widespread scale recently. With the coronavirus pandemic and consequent lack of team-oriented games, pickleball observed further popularity. The four players competed in the Pickleball Slam for a $1 million grand prize. The sport was nationally televised for the first time in the United States.
The maiden Slam also lay witness to McEnroe’s infamous meltdown after a fault. He also engaged in some smack talk against the organizers, jokingly saying, “They’re trying to cheat me out of the game.” Agassi also called the American a ‘pain in the a**’. Prior to the highly-awaited championship itself, McEnroe ‘threatened’ Agassi and Roddick, claiming he could easily beat them.
In another clip posted by the official Pickleball Slam account, Agassi can be seen sarcastically lauding McEnroe. The former joked that he would break out in hives, owing to McEnroe’s somewhat docile behavior. However, later on, true to his nature, McEnroe went on to throw the paddle to the ground during the second set game point.
Also read: WATCH: John McEnroe has his signature ‘meltdown’ during the Pickleball clash with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick
What is the Pickleball Slam?
The first-ever Pickleball tournament saw McEnroe and Chang competing against Agassi and Roddick in the event’s two-team format. Two singles matches, Roddick vs. Chang and McEnroe vs. Agassi, were played first. One point was awarded to each singles champion’s team. A doubles match wrapped up the competition, with the winning duo, i.e Agassi and Roddick, earning two points and $1 million.
Invented in 1965, the sport’s popularity grew very recently. ESPN televised a pickleball tournament nationally for the first time in the United States. On Sunday, special guest Steffi Graf was also present at the tournament, Graf even showcased her skills to sub in for her husband, Agassi.
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Tanisha Mohanty
(172 Articles Published)