Pickleball Magazine 3-2 | Page 27

PADDLE BATTLE TEAM RODDICK VS TEAM AGASSI Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick Team Up For $30,000 Pickleball Fundraiser Two legendary figures in the sport of tennis changed out their customary rackets for paddles in the inaugural Paddle Battle. Eight-time major championship winner Andre Agassi led his teammates up against 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick and his squad in a celebrated pickleball match for charity. The match took place in Austin, Texas, and the exciting action was streamed live on the USAPA Facebook page. Joining two of the most popular tennis players were some of pickleball’s finest competitors, including Marcin Rozpedski, Tyson McGuffin, Corrine Carr and Irina Tereschenko. The private event benefitted the Andy Roddick Foundation and the Andre Agassi Early Childhood Neuroscience Foundation. Other beneficiaries included Square Panda and Readvolution. Agassi was the first male player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass), and the last American male to win both the French Open in 1999 and the Australian Open in 2003. Aside from winning the US Open, Roddick was a three-time Wimbledon finalist and pushed Roger Federer to a thrilling five-set match in 2009, losing the final set 16-14. It remains the longest Grand Slam men’s singles final. Roddick was ranked in the Top 10 for nine consecutive years between 2002 and 2010. Many thanks to Selkirk, Engage and Paddletek for their support of this great event. Sponsors of Paddle Battle also included Margaritaville, Richard’s Rainwear, The Chive, Cuvee Coffee, Guero’s Taco Bar, Daily Greens Juice, Landshark Beer and Argus Cidery. • MARCH/APRIL 2018 | MAGAZINE 25