Tennis Australia is courting new fans with first ‘pickleball slam’ as participation soars and prize money starts to grow. It has been hyped up by the likes of Nick Kyrgios, Patty Mills and Adam Scott, and few social media feeds are safe from an influencer picking up a paddle. Pickleball will now make its Australian Open debut in a milestone that marks the fledgling sport’s legitimacy, as participation booms and professional opportunities mature.
![[Jack Snape]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/07/11/Jack_Snape.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The format that resembles mini-tennis with paddles and plastic, hollow balls has now overtaken rugby union, baseball and billiards in participation in Australia. With popularity soaring, local pickleballers are lobbying the government for official status to help with funding for court shortages and integrity measures to police burgeoning elite competitions.
![[Pickleball player Danni-Elle Townsend in action at the PPA Tour Australia event]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/54421e6cbf18333f4c54ea670236087bc4b6f4f2/325_686_5333_3200/master/5333.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Tennis Australia’s head of game expansion, Callum Beale, says the Australian Open has included accessible paddle formats like padel and pop tennis in recent years to expand the appeal of the broad tennis category, but this year’s first pickleball slam is a “symbolic” moment.
![[Danni-Elle Townsend and Michelle Esquivel playing doubles at a Major League Pickleball event]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cc9524a1ec309416d8c5fe8db6bfbd802699dc16/0_169_3408_2045/master/3408.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“[The Australian Open] is the greatest platform we can provide, and at a minimum, it’s one way we want to show that pickleball is here, it’s here to stay, and tennis wants to play a leading role in how it is grown and developed across Australia,” Beale says.
Pickleball Association Australia – which sits outside the Tennis Australia organisation – reports it has 16,000 registered players, roughly doubling its membership annually in recent years. Chair Jen Ramamurthy believes many like her have enjoyed tennis in their youth and are now drawn to a game that isn’t as demanding on their bodies but just as fun, skilful and competitive.
