Andrea Petkovic jokes about insulting pickleball players “like a mad woman” in New York to start her Sunday morning

On Sunday morning, former German tennis player Andrea Petkovic joked that she would insult pickleball players across the street in New York as a way to start her day.

Pickleball’s popularity has been on the rise in the United States since 2021, evident through various developments such as the emergence of pickleball tournaments, the establishment of Major League Pickleball, and the creation of the Pickleball Slam. These developments attest to the increasing acceptance of this paddle sport in the country.

Despite endorsements from tennis stars such as Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, and Andy Roddick, some players like Andy Murray, Reilly Opelka, and Rennae Stubbs have expressed disapproval of the sport.

On Sunday, March 31, Andrea Petkovic playfully poked fun at pickleball players on social media. The German tennis player shared on Instagram that she jokingly taunted pickleball players “like a crazy lady”from her spot across the street in Brooklyn.

“Not me insulting pickleball players from across the street like a mad woman,”Andrea Petkovic wrote on her Instagram stories.

The rapid expansion of Pickleball in the US can be credited to its simplistic rules and ability to attract individuals of all ages. In the past three years, it has gained the title of the fastest-growing sport in the US.

After only two seasons, the Pickleball Slam has gained popularity in the country, drawing in large crowds of fans for both editions.

Players Who Have Publicly Expressed Their Dislike for Pickleball

Despite Andrea Petkovic’s humorous remarks about pickleball, let’s take a closer look at some players on the tour who have expressed their disapproval of the paddle sport.

In a promotional video for the 2023 Canadian Open, Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev, Cameron Norrie, and Casper Ruud were asked to discuss the negative perceptions of tennis among players.

While Norrie reflected on the lack of skill requirements of the game, Murray continued to assert that he is “not a big fan.”

“I’m not a massive fan of it myself to be honest,”Murray said.

“For me it doesn’t require any skill,”Norrie stated.

At the same time, Ruud made a playful comment comparing the sport to being a “little sibling”of tennis.

“Kind of feels like it is the baby brother of Tennis. So, you know we always pick on your baby brother. Don’t you?”Casper Ruud said.

Despite being relatively new, the sport has gained immense popularity, causing dislike among players, according to Rublev.

“Because it’s just a new sport that is already in the top of the search,”Andrey Rublev stated.