Anna Leigh Waters and Andre Agassi Team Up for U.S. Open Pickleball Debut

Eighteen-year-old pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters is already a living legend with 148 titles to her name, but for the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, she’s adding a wildcard to her resume—partnering with tennis legend Andre Agassi. The unlikely duo will compete in mixed doubles, with their debut match set for April 30, airing live on CBS Sports Network. Waters says she’s motivated by growing the sport. Agassi jokes she’s simply tired of winning and wanted a challenge. Whether it’s savvy marketing or genuine chemistry, this team-up is the latest power move in the sport’s rapid evolution.

Waters, who turned pro at 12 and is currently the top-ranked player in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed, has always taken the road less traveled. Unlike many of her peers, she didn’t migrate from tennis—she chose pickleball over it, citing its joy, community, and accessibility. Her mother, now her coach and occasional partner, was part of that decision from day one. For Agassi, pickleball became a family pastime during the pandemic, and now he and wife Steffi Graf are Joola ambassadors. Despite his tennis pedigree, Agassi’s role will be learning to follow Waters’ lead—he’s the rookie here, and she’s setting the tempo.

Their partnership reflects a broader shift: celebrity interest is pouring into pickleball, and Waters is both gatekeeper and guide. With Agassi, she’s not just building a brand—she’s legitimizing pickleball as a competitive spectacle. Their aggressive style aligns with the sport’s push toward faster, flashier play, and if all goes well, it could bridge the gap between tennis traditionalists and the pickleball faithful. For Agassi, it’s a chance to do something new. For Waters, it’s another historic notch on a paddle that’s already full.