5 hours Ago By Rahul Sadhu
Naomi Osaka, the former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, was recently spotted trying her hand at Pickleball. The 27-year-old tennis star was present at the Play Academy, where she tried to showcase her case on the pickleball court.
However, Osaka was a wee bit embarrassed when her first attempt misfired, and her shot landed directly in the net. However, that did not deter her, and she nailed an overhead shot. Despite having fun on the court, Osaka did not shy away from admitting that pickleball had its own challenges.
"It's definitely a different game," she said. "You have to be more nimble and have good hand-eye coordination." Osaka is not the first tennis player to try pickleball.
Several other professional tennis players have also expressed interest in the sport, and some have even made the switch from tennis to pickleball entirely. Former World No. 1 tennis player Andre Agassi will visit India to flag off the PWR DUPR Indian Tour & League, a grand pickleball tour that promises to bring the thrill of competitive pickleball to India.
This phenomenon is a result of an innovative partnership between The Times Group, Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), and Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). “I love watching pickleball, but only until I get to that point of wanting to go play it," Agassi had said. “I’ve seen pickleball save so many tennis clubs because people come and play,” Agassi said.
“This sport translates culture, it breaks down cultural barriers. It’s people, it’s community, anybody can play it,” he concluded. Stay connected with all the latest news on Pickleball, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, tips, and inspiration you won't find anywhere else.
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