ARES Pickleball Slam

The ARES Pickleball Slam is Coming to South Florida For a Clash of Titans: Tennis Legends Take on Pickleball Pros in Slam 4

Mar 05, 2026

The ARES Pickleball Slam is set to return to the Sunshine State this April, pairing two tennis legends against pickleball pros in an ultimate showdown with a $1 million prize purse on the line. Ares Management Corporation, a leading global alternative investment manager, was recently named title sponsorship for the annual pickleball franchise event.

Hall of Famer and three-time Pickleball Slam defending champion Andre Agassi teams up with Former ATP No. 4 James Blake to take on the No. 1 ranked Anna Leigh Waters, the most dominant pickleball player of all time, and former WTA No. 5 Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard, who is ranked No. 10 on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour in Women’s Singles. Slam 4 will be live on ESPN in primetime at 7 p.m. EST on April 15, 2026, from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.

In Slam 4, icons from both tennis and pickleball collide in the ultimate showdown to determine if competitive fire and legacy or skill and expertise will prevail. Agassi will take the court looking to extend his undefeated record in Pickleball Slam competition with Blake as his partner, but standing in their way are Waters and Bouchard.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenge of competing in a new sport and am proud of winning three Pickleball Slams in a row. I’m excited to partner with James and ready to defend my title against Anna Leigh and Genie,” said Andre Agassi, who will for the first time participate in an event under his Agassi Sports Entertainment Corp. banner. “I’ve had the luxury of teaming with Anna Leigh and have been blown away by her skills and commitment to excellence. Facing off against these two great athletes won’t be easy, fortunately I’ve been playing racket sports longer than they’ve been alive!”

"Many people still think the top women's players couldn't beat the top men's players in any racket sport. We are ready to prove them wrong," said Anna Leigh Waters. "Genie and I have a lot of respect for Andre and James’ legacy, but they're about to learn how hard it really is to master the sport we play for a living. If Andre wants to keep that Pickleball Slam title, he’s going to have to earn it the hard way."

“After three highly rated and successful Pickleball Slam events which showcased legendary tennis players, I have been consistently asked when the best pickleball players will take part in our franchise. In Slam 4, viewers will get the long-awaited answer to which racquet sports athletes reign supreme,” said David Levy, co-CEO and founder, Horizon Sports & Experiences. “The Pickleball Slam is the sport’s crown jewel and its most prominent platform for brand and consumer engagement, capitalizing on the undeniable interest in the country’s fastest growing sport.”

“We’re proud to support this dynamic franchise that is helping to fuel the rapid growth of pickleball in America,” said Kipp deVeer, Co-President of Ares. “At Ares, we embrace an entrepreneurial mindset and teamwork to constantly reimagine what’s possible. The Pickleball Slam embodies a similar innovative and collaborative spirit. We’re excited to help bring this lively event to an expanding community of passionate fans and participants.”

Tickets for Slam 4 are available at myhrl.com and Ticketmaster. Select courtside VIP tickets, which include meet-and-greet are also available. All seats are reserved. Doors open one hour before the event. Additional fees may apply. The Ares Pickleball Slam is co-produced by Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) and GSE Worldwide.

Learn more at www.thepickleballslam.com. And follow Slam 4 on social media (Facebook: thepickleballslam; X: @pickleballslam; Instagram: @thepickleballslam; and TikTok: thepickleballslam) for more news and announcements to come ahead of the April 15, 2026 event.