John McEnroe talks trash ahead of pickleball clash with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick

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John McEnroe behind the microphone

John McEnroe has called out Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick ahead of a pickleball exhibition.

McEnroe will team with Michael Chang at the Pickleball Slam, which will take place on Sunday, 2 April at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The tennis legend feels that he still has the touch to teach Agassi and Roddick some lessons, while his compatriots’ physical gifts won’t be brought to bear on him this time around.

McEnroe will play a singles match against Agassi as well as the doubles contest, while Chang will also take on Roddick in a one-on-one clash.

It has been McEnroe leading the trash talk between the four men ahead of the event, calling out Agassi and warning Roddick that his big serve is off-limits.

“And then there was pickleball. Mr. Andre Agassi, you can’t run me around like you used to do on the tennis court, and Mr. Andy Roddick, you got to serve underhand. So guess what, Michael Chang and I are coming for you. Let’s do it,” McEnroe said.

Chang said that the event gave him a chance to get a few losses back from Agassi and Roddick.

“I’ve been thinking for years how I can avenge some of these losses, particularly to Andre Agassi and even a couple to Andy Roddick. Now I got my chance, the pickleball Slam, and I get a partner with the best hands in tennis, John McEnroe. Bring it on baby,” Chang said.

Chang would label his partnership with McEnroe as the ‘Fast and the Furious’ a reference to his playing style and the former Superbrat’s infamous temper.

“Maybe you can refer to us as the “Fast and Furious” team, I don’t know but it could be a pretty good name for us. I don’t have to tell you who the furious one would be but it’s going to be a lot of fun when we get on court,” Chang said.

That label doesn’t stick for Agassi, who hilariously fired back, saying: “Fast and Furious? More like slow and delirious.”

Agassi and McEnroe only met four times, but Chang had many battles with his compatriot. Chang won just seven of the 22 matches between 1988 and 2003. Roddick also beat Chang twice in ATP Tour matches as the tail-end of the 1989 French Open champions career coincided with the rise of a new star.

The Pickleball Slam takes place in Miami during the joint ATP and WTA 1000 event in the city.

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