Australian Open is set to embrace pickleball. Photo: AP
Pickleball‘s popularity is on the rise and the sport is making its presence felt across the globe. Pickleball’s soaring popularity has become a huge challenge for tennis and it can become the top racket sport in the next few years. Many former tennis stars have become pro pickleball players. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has also tried his hand at the sport.
Amid Pickleball’s increasing popularity, the Australian Open will embrace the sport. The Australian Open is set to host the AO Pickleball Slam on the final weekend of the Grand Slam.
The Melbourne Park’s Court 3 will host the Pickleball Slam from January 24 to 26. It will have a prize money of $100,000. “Pickleball is a sport for everyone, and its rapid growth globally highlights its unique ability to connect people of all ages and backgrounds. By bringing pickleball to the AO, we’re embracing the future of racket sports and providing an incredible experience for players and fans alike,” Tom Larner, Tennis Australia’s chief tennis officer, said.
It will be interesting to see if Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios try their hand at pickleball during the event. Both star players are set to participate in the Australian Open. Kyrgios is confirmed to make his pickleball debut in 2025.
Ivan Lendl has a change of mind
Ivan Lendl has had a change of mind and he enjoyed playing pickleball at the Daytona Beach Open. Lendl hated playing the sport at first. “I am a little too old to play tennis and keep running around too much. So I picked doubles and play half the court. I enjoyed it. I hated it too at first and then I played a few times and I changed my mind,” Lendl told pickleball.com.