Pickleball has gained massive popularity, but tennis icon John McEnroe remains skeptical. During his ‘The MacZone’ broadcast of the French Open, McEnroe and his brother Patrick discussed the sport with former tennis star Genie Bouchard, who has switched to pickleball.
McEnroe’s views on pickleball were clear. He expressed disdain, humorously noting Bouchard’s shift to what he called “that damn stupid pickleball.” However, when Bouchard pointed out that he had tried the sport, McEnroe didn’t deny it.
“I played two weekends, and they paid me more money than I made in tennis,” McEnroe admitted. He clarified that he competed against tennis players in pickleball, which he considered different from typical matches against dedicated pickleball players.
McEnroe sees a major issue with pickleball—the sound of the plastic ball. “When you hit a tennis ball, it sounds awesome. But with pickleball, the sound is a big negative,” he remarked, questioning Bouchard if she found the sound annoying. The noise, akin to a wiffle ball, stands in stark contrast to more pleasing sports sounds like a bat cracking or an engine revving.
The former tennis star also critiqued the sport’s name as a “stumbling block,” describing it as “goofy sounding.” The familiarity with the name caused confusion during his high school years, leading McEnroe to initially believe it was a fictional game created by his gym teacher.
Regardless, pickleball has become a significant part of recreational sports, capturing the interest of many, even if not all are convinced of its charm.
Matthew Reigle writes for OutKick.