"Only sport where team owners are better than actual athletes": Opelka dismissive of pickleball

Reilly Opelka commented that pickleball club owners are better than the competing athletes, owners include Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios.

The growing popularity of pickleball has captured the attention of fans, especially those of tennis and paddle tennis, given the similarities between them. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in the United States between 2021 and 2022.

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Pickleball reportedly reached around 4.8 million players in 2022, and that number is expected to continue rising in 2023. The cost of a Major League Pickleball team has skyrocketed from $100,000 in 2021 to over $5 million today.

This increase can be attributed to the involvement of well-known owners who have invested in the sport, such as Mark Cuban, David Dobrik, Naomi Osaka, LeBron James, Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, and Nick Kyrgios.

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"Pickleball is the only sport where team owners are better athletes than the 'Athletes'," Opelka wrote on Instagram.

Pickleball has quickly become an attractive sport for investors and fans, so it is likely that more stars and athletes will invest in pickleball teams.

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