Roger Federer recently tried pickleball for the first time and shared his thoughts on it.
Earlier this year, Federer got interested in this new paddle sport that’s gaining popularity among tennis fans and players. He thought about playing it just for fun.
Seeing Jack Sock and Sam Querrey, who still play professionally after retiring from tennis, inspired him.
Sock has become so good at pickleball that he now has his own signature paddle. Eugenie Bouchard was the first active tennis player to go pro in pickleball in 2024, winning her first professional match last month.
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Pickleball’s Rising Popularity:
In 2023, pickleball grew by 52% in the USA but isn’t seen as a threat to tennis. Tennis legends like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, and Maria Sharapova have also played in exhibition tournaments like the Pickleball Slam.
While it’s not as popular outside America yet, Roland Garros is promoting it in France with new pickleball courts on their grounds.
Federer playing pickleball is a big deal for its global growth. On a trip to Vietnam, he played and found it easier than tennis despite having played over 1000 tennis matches.
“It felt like a big version of ping-pong. It felt strange and unreal. It was like 110 degrees when I played, so I was more battling the circumstances than the game. It’s an easier game than tennis and it’s fun.”
Fans might think it’s cool seeing their favorite players try new sports.
What do you think about Federer trying out pickleball?
