Andre Agassi called out by Eugenie Bouchard for being “scared” as he and Steffi Graf share their strategy for Pickleball Slam 3
Eugenie Bouchard (L); Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf (R) (Image Source: Getty)
Andre Agassi called out by Eugenie Bouchard for being “scared” as he and Steffi Graf share their strategy for Pickleball Slam 3
By
Urvi Mehra
Modified Nov 25, 2024 11:57 GMT
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Eugenie Bouchard took a playful jab at Andre Agassi after the American shed light on his and Steffi Graf’s strategy for Pickleball Slam 3. Bouchard is set to join forces with Andy Roddick to take on the tennis power couple at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on February 16, 2025.
As Pickleball Slam 3 draws near, both teams have been drumming up anticipation for the high-profile showdown by engaging in mind games. Following Roddick’s dig about “carrying” Agassi to victory in the inaugural edition, the eight-time Grand Slam champion and Graf threw down the gauntlet by labeling their opponents as the “enemy.”
Andre Agassi also shed on their tactics in a recent promotional clip for the event, singling out Eugenie Bouchard as the player most accustomed to handling the demands of the clash given that she had switched to professional pickleball.
“For me, the calculus is knowing that she’s going to be the only one out there in that competitive environment, who has learned how to manage her blood pressure and nerves and energy right,” Andre Agassi said.
“In tennis, you have the luxury of transferring that energy with your feet and hitting through your shot and having physical control. In pickle, you have to have a lot of urgency, but then you have to calm yourself down,” he added.
Agassi further emphasized that the Canadian’s familiarity with the competitive pickleball environment gave her a massive advantage in dealing with the pressure. As such, the eight-time Grand Slam champion revealed his and Steffi Graf’s plans to target the relative “weakness” of her counterpart Andy Roddick.
“She has a great deal of experience competing in so many events to be able to control the best of herself in that environment so that’s gonna be a big advantage for her. It’s not going to feel unfamiliar to have pressure on the line and to keep herself calm and execute what she knows to do. That’s the big advantage for her,” he said.
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“I think the plan is to always go after the weakness so I think we’re going to play her as little as possible. We’re going to check Andy’s oil,” he added.
Eugenie Bouchard shared a cheeky reaction to Andre Agassi’s comments, playfully accusing the former World No. 1 of sounding “scared.”
“@agassi sounds scared,” Bouchard posted on her Instagram story.
Eugenie Bouchard's Instagram storyEugenie Bouchard’s Instagram story
Andre Agassi: “To Steffi Graf’s point, I totally respect Eugenie Bouchard for being one of the first ones to bridge that gap from tennis to pickleball”
Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi – Source: GettySteffi Graf and Andre Agassi – Source: Getty
In another promotional clip for Pickleball Slam 3, Steffi Graf praised Eugenie Bouchard for making the difficult transition from tennis to professional pickleball.
“Genie’s been really playing well this year, taking it professional. I think the jump from tennis into pickleball is not an easy transition, and doubles and mixed is so different from tennis, so it’s a little harder. We’re hoping she doesn’t have too much of an edge there,” Graff said.
Andre Agassi echoed his wife’s sentiments, commending the Canadian on her “courage” and strength to step into an entirely unfamiliar competitive environment.
“To Stef’s point, I totally respect Genie for being one of the first ones to bridge that gap from tennis to pickle. The strength it takes, the courage it takes, to put yourself in a competitive environment, put yourself on the line in something that’s not terribly familiar to you, just shows her competitive (nature),” Andre Agassi said.
Responding to Agassi and Graf’s compliments, Eugenie Bouchard humorously remarked the couple was “so nice” that she almost felt guilty about having to beat them at Pickleball Slam 3.
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