AO to provide platform for pickleball from 2025

Agency :

The Australian Open will embrace one of the fastest-growing sports in the world when it hosts the inaugural AO Pickleball Slam on the final weekend of next month’s tennis major with $100,000 in prize money.

Invented in 1965 by a group of American friends, pickleball is a fast-paced paddle sport similar to tennis and badminton played on smaller courts using a perforated plastic ball, and interest has skyrocketed in recent years.

Melbourne Park’s court three will transform into pickleball central from Jan. 24-26 next year, as an international field of players compete for honors.

“Pickleball is a sport for everyone, and its rapid growth globally highlights its unique ability to connect people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Tennis Australia’s chief tennis officer Tom Larner.

“By bringing pickleball to the AO, we’re embracing the future of racket sports and providing an incredible experience for players and fans alike.”

Pickleball was also part of the Miami Open in March and was demonstrated at the French Open Grand Slam in June.

But some fans view the convergence of the two at mainstream tournaments as efforts by tennis to ensure advertising funds are not diverted away from it to pickleball.

That has not stopped pickleball from pushing ahead with its own expansion plans.