The Pickleball Slam is back for its second season with a slightly altered format and few new faces who’ll compete for a $1 million cash purse.
Instead of only singles matches, the new tournament structure will feature doubles matches with tennis legends and pickleball professionals. John McEnroe and Andre Agassi return once more after both competed in 2023, while female stars Maria Sharapova and Steffi Graff join them alongside pickleballers Jack Sock and James Blake.
Tennis and pickleball are very similar – although pickleball has a few quirks that differentiates itself, such as where players can stand when they hit the ball and names of specific areas on the court.
The tournament celebrates arguably the fasted-growing sport in America. There are already two professional pickleball tours and one professional league: The Association of Pickleball Professionals, the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball.
That’s a lot of pickleball.
Several high-profile athletes and celebrities have invested in the sport over the years, too: From LeBron James and Tom Brady to Drake and Michael B. Jordan.