Major Sports News - Genie Bouchard Has Joined The Professional Pickleball Tour

David Livingston. Getty Images.

Over the last few years the pickleball world has commenced their takeover. Getting the olds was easy, but the wave has made its way down to people in their 20s. You show up to a court with three of your friends and you'll find yourself lost for hours smacking that ball around. On my walk home from work on 2nd ave I pass by a court that's constantly flooded with hooligans armed with their paddles. It's addicting and a solid workout on top of that, but playing this game recreationally and following it as a professional sport are two different things. 

A rivalry between tennis and pickleball has emerged and it's becoming a blood bath of a war. The old guard of tennis treat pickleball like it's the plague. They scoff at the idea of succumbing to such a childish hobby. 

Recently we've seen pro tennis players like Sam Querrey and Jack Sock step aside from the game and defect to pickle. Some view it as a retirement tour, but hey you gotta start somewhere. Any players are welcomed additions when you're trying to make something legit out of nothing. 

Well, today the PPA made possibly their biggest splash yet. 

I'll tell ya this. I'm more inclined to tune in for a pickleball match now than I was five minutes ago. It's still a really tough watch, especially 2v2, but hey maybe things begin to change with Genie in the mix. I could think of worse players to add to a tour to try and gain more eyeballs. Genie puts asses in the seats. 

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She probably got a nice bag too so you can't fault her one bit. Tennis hasn't exactly been a successful venture for her over the recent years. Back in 2014 she cracked top 5 in the world rankings and even played in a slam final. Ever since her brutal concussion in 2015 after slipping and falling in the US Open locker room she really never regained her prime form. I actually think she's pretty good as an analyst for Tennis Channel, but still being just 29 years old she wants to be out there competing. Not going to blame someone who's had an injury plagued career for trying something less demanding in an attempt to make some good money. Maybe I'll even flip on a match when she starts to roll these bums.