Andre Agassi and Tennis Legends Headline Ares Pickleball Slam 4 in Hollywood
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
The Ares Pickleball Slam 4 returned to South Florida on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, featuring a showdown between tennis icons and professional pickleball stars. Held at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, the event saw competitors vie for a $1 million prize purse in a primetime match televised live on ESPN.
The competition paired Hall of Famer and three-time Pickleball Slam defending champion Andre Agassi with former ATP No. 4 James Blake. They faced off against Anna Leigh Waters, the top-ranked and most dominant player in pickleball history, and former WTA No. 5 Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard, who currently holds a top-10 ranking on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour.
Tournament Format and Matchups
The evening was structured around three key matches that tested the skill sets of both the tennis legends and the pickleball specialists. The schedule for the event included:
Match 1: A singles battle between Anna Leigh Waters and James Blake.
Match 2: A singles clash featuring Genie Bouchard against Andre Agassi.
Match 3: A doubles finale with Bouchard and Waters taking on the team of Agassi and Blake.
The event was created and produced by Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) and GSE Worldwide. Corporate partners for the 2026 edition included Hard Rock, Franklin, TurboTax, PB5star, and Journavx.
Venue and Participation
Hard Rock Live served as the backdrop for the high-stakes tournament, drawing sports fans to the 1 Seminole Way location. The Ares Pickleball Slam has become a staple of the South Florida sports calendar, continuing to bridge the gap between traditional tennis and the rapidly growing sport of pickleball.
Tickets for the spectacle were made available through Ticketmaster, allowing fans to witness the intersection of these two athletic disciplines firsthand. More information regarding the series and future events can be found on the official Pickleball Slam website.