Before the US Open 2023 commences, Major League Pickleball hosted a pickleball exhibition match with Venus Williams and Carlos Alcaraz as participants.
Holger Rune, Ons Jabeur, Andrey Rublev, and Tommy Paul, among other elite tennis players, made time in their tight training schedules to participate in the event. Williams and Alcaraz wowed the audience at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel as they competed in a mixed doubles match against Ons Jabeur and Tommy Paul.
Later, Williams shared pictures from the event on Instagram, one of which showed Carlos Alcaraz’ strategizing during the match. On her Instagram Story, she also humorously posted a poll in which she and the Spaniard were competing to have the “best backhand.”
“Strategizing with my new dubs partner,” Venus Williams captioned the Story with the image of her and Alcaraz.
— ? (@Lasso_Forehand) August 25, 2023
Tennis players were used during the event to promote pickleball, which has gained popularity in the US in recent years. The game is played in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles formats with a perforated and hollow plastic ball and paddles. It is frequently referred to as a little version of tennis.
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