Well-known tennis pro Nick Kyrgios is hell-bent on going all-in on pickleball.
This comes after the 30-year-old one-time Wimbledon finalist signed an investment and sponsorship deal with The Picklr, to date the fastest-growing pickleball chain in the US but with big plans for global expansion. And those plans, according to CEO and Co-Founder Jorge Barragan, will see Kyrgios playing a major role.
“I’ve admired Nick Kyrgios for years. His talent and passion are unique. But above all, he truly believes in the project we’re building,” said Barragan. “Together, we’re going to introduce pickleball to the world like never before.”
The Picklr already operates over 100 sites in the US, with the company’s growth fueled by pickleball’s meteoric and continuing rise. And with the sport growing worldwide, the company is branching out as well, with facilities already in the works in Japan, for instance, to tap into the massive Asian market.
Kyrgios’s role in this expansion will include taking part in the company’s promotional events, collaborating on social media campaigns, and producing exclusive content to boost The Picklr’s visibility.
All that should be no problem for the Australian, who has admitted his fascination with the sport already.
“When I play pickleball, I get more enjoyment out of being with my friends and family. It’s become a true passion,” he said recently. “The facilities, the courts, the community… all of it helps me improve. When a place draws so many people, you know it’s something special.”
Things have gotten even more special for Kyrgios. As part of his deal with The Picklr, the tennis vet has been given his own signature paddle, which is aptly named “The Kyrgios.” It was recently unveiled at a media event in Las Vegas in the US and is available at The Picklr branches in the US.
Clearly, Nick Kyrgios’s passion for pickleball is leading to great things, and they’re only going to get better, it appears.
