Ares Pickleball Slam 4 delivered exactly what it was supposed to. Big names, a packed crowd at Hard Rock Live, and a primetime ESPN broadcast that put the sport front and center.

This year felt different from the start.

For the first time in the Slam series, a true pickleball force was in the mix, with world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters stepping onto the court alongside Genie Bouchard to take on Andre Agassi and James Blake for the $1 million prize.

We were on-site for the entire event, and what played out was a lot more competitive than most people expected.

The Build-Up vs. Reality

Before the event, we asked you to weigh in on who would take it, and the response leaned heavily toward Team Pickleball.

With Anna Leigh Waters on one side, it felt like the obvious pick. Most expected her dominance to carry through, especially in this format.

But once play started, it became clear this was not going to be a runaway.

Match 1: Waters Delivers Early

The night opened with a singles matchup between Anna Leigh Waters and James Blake, and Blake came out ready.

He was moving well, keeping pace, and even held a late lead in the first game. But Waters stayed composed and closed it out 15-13 before taking control in the second game, 15-5.

It was a strong, expected start from the best player in the sport and gave Team Pickleball the early edge.

Match 2: Agassi Answers

Andre Agassi and Genie Bouchard followed, and while the first game had some solid exchanges, Agassi stayed in control.

He took the first game 15-11 and then pulled away in the second, 15-4, to even things up and give Team Tennis momentum heading into doubles.

Match 3: Doubles Decides It

The final match came down to doubles, and the strategy from Team Tennis was clear.

Agassi and Blake did everything they could to limit Anna Leigh Waters’ involvement, directing most of the play toward Genie Bouchard. But Bouchard held her own, blocking well, resetting under pressure, and creating opportunities for Waters to attack.

On the other side, Blake played a strong left side, picking his spots to be aggressive and working seamlessly with Agassi.

The first game was tight, with long rallies and high-level shot-making from both sides, but Agassi and Blake edged it out 25-23.

They carried that momentum into the second game, closing it out 21-15 to secure the win and the $1 million prize.

A Note From Courtside

During the broadcast, James Blake mentioned that the lighting made it a bit more difficult to track the ball, especially with darker edges around the court compared to earlier in the day.

We caught up with him post-match to ask more about how it affected play.

What This Means Going Forward

Ares Pickleball Slam 4 did what it needed to do.

It delivered a competitive match, brought together tennis legends and pickleball’s top player, and put the sport on a national stage in primetime.

And now, with Andre Agassi four-for-four in Slam appearances, the question shifts a bit.

Can he make it five?

That is the storyline heading into the next Pickleball Slam.