Former WTA No. 1 Maria Sharapova began her preparations for the second edition of the Pickleball Slam in earnest in the company of tennis legend John McEnroe.
Sharapova and McEnroe are set to team up to face Andre Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf in the Pickleball Slam 2 at the Hardrock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on February 4th, 2024. The Russian shared an update on her Instagram with the caption: my first pickleball lesson, suggesting she was grasping the basics of the fastest-growing sport in the USA.
Sharapova featured in the promotional video for next year's event, in which she revealed that she was getting competitive, but concomitantly nervous and anxious. McEnroe had gotten a taste of pickleball competition when he played the first edition alongside Michael Chang.
The seven-time major champion who also appeared in the promotional shoot, promised to bring back 'Team Mac' when Sharapova inquired of the team's name, saying, 'The Mac attack is back for Pickleball Slam 2.' The two former tennis No. 1s from both Tours traded their rackets for the paddle as they enjoyed a hit together on a sun-kissed pickleball court.
Sharapova had opened a Q&A on her Instagram with questions directed specifically to her pickleball partner, McEnroe. One of the fans asked the 64-year-old to persuade Sharapova to make a tennis comeback to which the tennis pundit said, 'We're gonna stick to pickleball for the moment.'
Sharapova, 36, retired from professional tennis in February 2020, in a low-key exit from the limelight. She was also one of the very few WTA players (active and retired) whose success transcended beyond the tennis landscape.
Aside from winning six Grand Slams and being ranked as the No. 1 player for 21 weeks, Sharapova was the world's highest-paid female athlete for 11 straight years between 2005 and 2016.
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