Star Tennis Player Andy Roddick to Star in Pickleball-Themed Comedy That’s Produced by Ben Stiller

The American tennis legend Andy Roddick has now become one of the biggest advocates for recently popularized sport pickleball as the sport continues to sweep across the U.S. Roddick is literally taking his love for the game to the big screen!

According to a report from Variety Magazine, Andy is set to star in The Dink, a pickleball-focused comedy produced by star actor/director Ben Stiller. The star cast doesn’t end at Andy! Joining Roddick in the fun pickleball-theme will be Jake Johnson (New Girl, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Mary Steenburgen (Time After Time, Melvin and Howard), and Ed Harris (Apollo 13, The Truman Show).

Roddick who was well-known for his fiery serve and competitive spirit, had an impressive 15-year long tennis career and won an impressive 32 singles titles, including the 2003 US Open. He also made it to the finals at Wimbledon three times and the US Open once but famously fell short each time to none other than Roger Federer.

Roddick is definitely best known for his on-court prowess, yet this isn’t his first time in front of the TV camera. He’s made appearances on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, hosted Saturday Night Live (making him the only male tennis player in the world to do so) and has had a role in Just Go With It. Now he looks ready to take on pickleball in a whole new way- this time, for pure laughs!

So what is “Pickleball”?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines the elements of the racquet sports of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball. It is widely known to be a game that is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels. The rules of pickleball are relatively simple and easy to grasp, making it a great introductory sport.

What’s the difference between Tennis and Pickleball?

Pickleball and tennis are different in terms of court size, rules of the game, and equipment. Tennis courts are longer and wider than pickleball courts. Tennis players use heavy racquets and rubber-covered tennis balls, while pickleball players use light paddles and low-bouncing plastic balls.

Why is it suddenly so popular?

Pickleball’s biggest USP and selling point seems to be:

“Pickleball is for everyone!”

This appears to be one of the reasons pickleball has become so popular. You can see players out on a pickleball court ranging from 4 years old to over 80 years old (quite literally!)