Andre Agassi Calls Hong Kong’s Pickleball Potential ‘Exceptional’ as He Vows to Help Sport Grow More
We’ve been talking about Vietnam, India, and Malaysia as emerging epicentres of pickleball here in Asia. But it looks like we need to start paying more attention to Hong Kong, where pickleball is gaining so much momentum that no less than eight-time Grand Slam champion and pickleball ambassador Andre Agassi has taken notice.
Agassi, who has been busy promoting pickleball globally, recently visited Hong Kong—his first visit there since 1999—and was wowed by pickleball’s growth there. He was so impressed that he described Hong Kong’s potential for pickleball as “exceptional.”
Hong Kong, of course, has made considerable inroads in growing the sport of pickleball, building dedicated facilities for it and having enough space for more infrastructure. It turns out, this has piqued Agassi’s interest, so much so that he wants to help grow the sport more in this small nation.
“I’ve been to India with intentions of helping the sport grow and expand,” he said. “With the infrastructure that exists in Hong Kong, the land and space that exists, the little demand that pickleball takes, as opposed to, say, tennis, the ability to expand in pickle is pretty exceptional here. I would love to see this marketplace open up to the growth of pickleball and the expansion of it. If it’s anywhere near what we’ve seen in the United States, it’ll be epic.”
Agassi Vows to Help Out
It will be epic indeed, and it could happen sooner rather than later if and when Agassi helps out as well. The tennis legend, who picked up the sport at the age of 55, is a recognisable figure in the world of pickleball and has since been a leading mover in growing the sport, promoting it with unmatched enthusiasm and taking part in exhibitions and even tournaments.
For Agassi, in particular, he just wants people to play the sport—to give it a try.
“My belief is in the participation side,” Agassi told the South China Morning Post in recent interview. “I don’t know if pickleball will ever translate on TV. That’s the billion-dollar question. “Regardless of TV or turning professional, all you need to do is play it. It bridges generational gaps from parents to children and, in some cases, grandparents.”
As for his plans, Agassi told the Post he’d be focused on the infrastructure side of things and reel in investors.
“I’m working with different possibilities on spreading the facility side of pickleball, as well as a public company I hold that will be able to help those who are fighting out this space in the sandbox, have a vehicle to either exit, expand, or create some distribution for their investors.”
Judging by Hong Kong’s successful hosting of the PPA Tour Asia Hong Kong Open 2025, this small country looks to be bridging that generational divde, so much so that it’s primed for an even bigger pickleball explosion. Don’t be surprised if Andre Agassi lends a hand in that.
