Andre Agassi's Pickleball Passion: A New Era for the Sport
From Playing with Pros to Growing the Game, Agassi's Involvement Signals a Bright Future for Pickleball
In a recent episode of the "Bad Calls" podcast, hosts Travis Rettenmaier and Graham D’Amico offered an inside look at their exhilarating experience playing pickleball with tennis icon Andre Agassi. Recorded in St. Petersburg after a memorable trip to Las Vegas, the episode crackled with enthusiasm as the hosts explored Agassi’s surprising immersion in the sport, his upcoming appearance at the US Pickleball Open, and the broader shifts shaping pickleball’s competitive landscape. With Agassi teaming up with rising star Anna Leigh Waters and lending his star power to grow the game, the podcast painted a vivid picture of a sport on the cusp of a new era. This article dives into the key moments from the episode, blending the hosts’ personal anecdotes with sharp analysis of pickleball’s evolving dynamics.
0:34 Playing with Andre Agassi a Couple of Weeks Ago
Experience of playing with Agassi
Agassi’s enthusiasm and humility
Surreal moment of interacting with a childhood hero
Rettenmaier and D’Amico kicked off the episode still buzzing from their time on the court with Andre Agassi in Las Vegas. The tennis legend, known for his eight Grand Slam titles, has become an unabashed pickleball devotee, texting Rettenmaier late at night with questions about technique and sending footage for critique. “It’s surreal,” Rettenmaier said, recalling how he once wore Agassi’s signature gear as a kid, only to now find himself advising the icon. Agassi’s humility stood out—he approached the game with a beginner’s zeal, asking about his off-arm positioning and soaking up feedback. D’Amico, meanwhile, connected with Agassi’s cerebral approach, marveling at how a player of such athletic pedigree overthinks the game much like he does. The hosts painted Agassi as a “pickleball junkie,” a term D’Amico coined with affection, highlighting his genuine love for the sport and a sense of duty to give back to it.
2:32 US Pickleball Open
Agassi’s participation with Anna Leigh Waters
Predictions for their performance
Notable teams and potential challengers
The conversation shifted to the US Pickleball Open, where Agassi will pair with Anna Leigh Waters in mixed doubles, a pairing that has the pickleball world abuzz. Rettenmaier, who plans to assist as an unofficial coach, believes they have a real shot at the title, despite Agassi’s relative inexperience. “He’s hyperaggressive,” he noted, predicting a game plan heavy on drives rather than the patient dinking typical of elite pickleball. Waters, a seasoned pro accustomed to playing with her mother, Leigh, will likely anchor the duo with her finesse. The hosts scouted the field, naming top teams like Monroe and Megan Fudge, Bobby Oshiro and Andre Mick, and Susannah Barr and Lane as potential threats. D’Amico emphasized the event’s broader impact: ticket sales, sluggish due to fewer pros, are now surging thanks to Agassi’s star power. The Open, they agreed, has struck gold by showcasing this unlikely partnership.
8:46 Anna Leigh vs Andre Agassi
Possibility of a private singles match
Logistics and energy considerations
A tantalizing aside emerged when the hosts speculated about a private singles showdown between Waters and Agassi. “That would be cool,” Rettenmaier mused, though he quickly tempered the idea with practical concerns. Waters will arrive at the Open fresh off Major League Pickleball (MLP) Orlando, her schedule packed and energy finite. Agassi, meanwhile, will be grinding through practice, nerves jangling as he adapts to competitive pickleball. Still, the notion captivated them—a clash pitting Waters’ youthful precision against Agassi’s raw power. While unlikely during the Open, the hosts’ excitement underscored the allure of such a matchup, even if only as a fantasy for now.
9:14 Growing The Game
Agassi’s efforts to promote pickleball
Involvement in slams and charitable initiatives
Agassi Sports Entertainment and its focus on racket sports
Agassi’s influence extends beyond the court, a point the hosts drove home with admiration. His participation in high-profile events like the Open and lucrative slams is just the start; Rettenmaier highlighted a “charitable direction” in Agassi’s approach, a desire to repay a debt to racket sports. Through Agassi Sports Entertainment, he’s channeling resources into pickleball, positioning it as a cornerstone of his ventures. D’Amico recounted a late-night text from Agassi—sent at 10:30 p.m. after a session with a 5.5-level player—brimming with “sheer exuberance.” The hosts see Agassi as a catalyst, his fame and passion poised to elevate pickleball’s profile and inspire new players, pros and amateurs alike.
10:33 MLP Orlando
Preview of the MLP event in Orlando
Team compositions and predictions
Impact of side-out scoring vs. rally scoring
With MLP Orlando looming, the hosts previewed the event they’ll attend as both commentators and fans. The Orlando Squeeze, buoyed by a home crowd and an expanded grandstand, are a team to watch, though Rettenmaier leaned toward perennial contenders like the Ranchers, Shock, and Fives. Team rosters, however, remain a moving target, with player switches muddying predictions. The hosts debated the shift from rally to side-out scoring, concluding it’s unlikely to shake up outcomes significantly. Their excitement was palpable—Orlando promises top-tier matchups and a festive atmosphere, a perfect stage for pickleball’s growing spectacle.
10:29 Brooklyn Pickleball Club
Details about the Brooklyn Pickleball Club
Confusion around team changes
Kevin Durant’s involvement
The Brooklyn Pickleball Club sparked a mix of intrigue and exasperation. Featuring players like Rachel Rohrabacher, Riley Newman, and Jade Kawamoto, the team has potential, yet its identity remains hazy amid constant roster tweaks. D’Amico lamented the confusion, a sentiment echoed by Rettenmaier, who noted Kevin Durant’s stake in the club as a boon for pickleball’s reach, especially in Washington, D.C., where Durant grew up. The NBA star’s involvement, they agreed, could draw new eyes to the sport, even if the team’s revolving door frustrates fans trying to keep up.
13:04 Same Teams, Players Switching All Around
Difficulty in following team and player changes
Concerns about team disparity and lopsided matches
The hosts didn’t mince words about the chaos of player movement across MLP teams. “It’s impossible,” D’Amico said, struggling to recall who’s where. This flux, they warned, risks alienating fans and creating lopsided matches, with powerhouse squads like the Shock and Ranchers potentially steamrolling weaker ones like the Hustlers, whom Rettenmaier predicted might go winless. The disparity, they feared, could dampen the league’s appeal over the next year or two unless balance improves—a challenge MLP must tackle as it matures.
14:40 The Girlies Split
Split between Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher
Upcoming matchups and potential tension
A juicy subplot emerged with the breakup of Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher, once a dynamic duo dubbed “the girlies.” Their split, followed by a rescheduled Orlando matchup, promises drama. “There’s tension,” Rettenmaier said, noting their close friendship and shared branding as a team poised to challenge the elite. D’Amico predicted a fierce contest, with both players eager to prove themselves post-partnership. The hosts plan to tune in, alarms set, for what could be one of the event’s most compelling battles.
16:32 MLP Changes
Changes in MLP rules regarding waiver periods and trades
Impact on teams and player development
MLP’s rule tweaks drew scrutiny, with waiver periods shrinking from four to two and trade money now flowing to teams rather than the league. Rettenmaier saw the latter as a plus—teams losing a fifth or sixth roster player to a rival at least get compensated, easing the sting of development lost. Yet he questioned the wisdom of allowing such poaching, arguing it discourages investment in emerging talent. The hosts viewed these shifts as steps toward stability, though the league’s growing pains remain evident.
17:44 Moms/Parents
Increasing involvement of parents in pickleball
Comparison to tennis and concerns about pressure on juniors
The rise of “pickleball moms” and parents caught the hosts’ attention, echoing tennis’s well-trodden path. D’Amico cited pros like Leigh Waters and Julie Johnson, alongside newer figures like Tina Fehees’ mom, as examples of growing parental presence. Rettenmaier, however, grew somber recalling junior matches where parents berated kids, a scene all too familiar from tennis. “It burns kids out,” he said, lamenting the pressure tied to money and opportunity. His own mother, a former top-100 tennis player, offered a positive counterpoint—she coached him with insight, not coercion—but he feared such balance is rare as pickleball professionalizes.
22:54 Anna Bright - New Wave of Players, Left/Right Side
Anna Bright’s analysis of steady vs. chaotic play
Evolution of playing styles in men’s doubles
Anna Bright’s Twitter thread on men’s doubles sparked a deep dive into pickleball’s tactical evolution. She posited a shift from the steady play of Ben and Collin Johns to a chaotic style led by Matt Wright and Riley Newman, with a new wave—Hayden Patriquin, Christian Alshon—pushing the envelope further. Steady left-siders like Federico Starks and Andre Daescu, Bright argued, now pair with chaotic right-siders, flipping traditional roles. Rettenmaier praised her insight, suggesting two chaotic players might eventually dominate as skill levels rise. D’Amico saw it as circumstantial, a mix of old guard and bold newcomers, but both agreed the meta is shifting fast.
26:53 What is This?
Review of Salt Stick and Supercush grips
Humorous commentary on product branding
In a lighter moment, the hosts reviewed sponsor gear: Salt Stick electrolyte chews and Supercush grips. Rettenmaier raved about Salt Stick’s mixed berry flavor—“delicious,” he declared—though he dodged health claims, joking his daughter once mistook them for candy. The grips, from a biking company, earned props for style and stickiness, despite a branding flub (Supercush, not “Superass”). Their candid takes—praising quality, mocking names—offered a playful break from the episode’s intensity, reinforcing their commitment to “keep it real” with listeners.
32:15 Outro
Closing remarks and teaser for the next episode
The episode wrapped with gratitude and a tease: a recap of MLP Orlando awaits in the next installment. Rettenmaier, ever the joker, vowed to snag US Open tickets as Agassi’s “assistant coach,” complete with towels and a whistle. D’Amico chimed in, envisioning jerseys and sideline antics. Their banter—self-aware and irreverent—left fans eager for more, a fitting cap to a podcast brimming with insight and personality.
Article Summary
The "Bad Calls" episode with Travis Rettenmaier and Graham D’Amico was a love letter to pickleball’s present and future, anchored by Andre Agassi’s transformative presence. From their awe at playing with a childhood hero to sharp breakdowns of the US Open and MLP Orlando, the hosts blended personal tales with expert takes. Agassi’s passion—evident in late-night texts and his Open debut with Anna Leigh Waters—emerged as a beacon for the sport’s growth, amplified by his charitable bent and Agassi Sports Entertainment. Beyond Agassi, the podcast tackled pickleball’s challenges: team chaos, parental pressures, and shifting styles, all signaling a sport in flux. With humor and candor, Rettenmaier and D’Amico captured pickleball’s pulse, leaving no doubt that its best days, fueled by legends and new blood alike, lie ahead.
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