Kyrgios left thrilled about Pickleball Slam rating news after previous investment in fledgling sport

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is excited about the recent Pickleball Slam's TV rating rising so quickly in ratings when compared to other more traditional sports.

Touted as “the fastest growing sport” in the United States since 2020, Pickleball has experienced a meteoric rise over the past few years. The Pickleball slam, an inaugural event inspired by the Grand Slams in tennis, was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Tennis legends Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick and Michael Chang were invited to participate in the event, with a prize pool of $1 million.

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The event was broadcast on ESPN on Sunday, April 2 and apparently did better than some major American sports like the NHL, NBA and the MLB.

Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios expressed his joy about the news on his social media.

“Exactly what I want to hear,” Nick Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram story.

Kyrgios has a vested interest in the sport, being the co-owner of sports team Miami Pickleball Club, alongside four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and other celebrities such as American footballer Patrick Mahomes and musician Kygo.