Hall of Fame Heat: Roddick and T.O. Wreck Venice in Celebrity Pickleball Beatdown

Venice Beach got a little less casual this week when Andy Roddick and Terrell Owens showed up swinging—and not for selfies. The former tennis world No. 1 and the six-time Pro Bowl receiver teamed up for a promo event and proceeded to dismantle unsuspecting civilians on the pickleball court. Roddick’s laser serves and Owens’ freakish athleticism made it clear: even when they’re off-duty, these guys aren’t in the mood to “go easy.” Call it a friendly match if you want, but from the scoreboard’s point of view, it was target practice.

While the scene was technically part of HBO Max’s French Open coverage promo, the real action wasn’t in Paris—it was on the clay in Cali. Fans lined up for what they thought would be some light-hearted games, only to get clobbered point after point. In between rallies, Owens took the time to dish out tips on cross-court winners like he was running routes again, and Roddick offered photo ops with the same hands he used to hold the U.S. Open trophy. Cool, composed, and completely dominant, they didn’t just show up—they showed off.

To round out the scene, a handful of actors joined the fun, but no one could touch the champs. The takeaway? Just because you think you’ve been holding your own at open play doesn’t mean you’re ready for the big leagues. When legends roll through with paddles, you either level up or become part of the highlight reel. Dill with it.