The Business of Tennis

Kim Clijsters joins Tom Brady as co-owners for Major League Pickleball team

By David Kane Oct 13, 2022
The Business of Tennis

Serena Williams joins ownership group of Toronto Tempo WNBA team

By Baseline Staff Mar 03, 2025
The Business of Tennis

WTA makes call to 'rally the world' with 2025 rebrand

By Baseline Staff Feb 28, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Jannik Sinner out of Las Vegas exhibition because of doping ban, Casper Ruud to fill in

By Associated Press Feb 20, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Rafael Nadal set for $94-million profit after selling part of his stake in tennis academy

By Baseline Staff Feb 11, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Mirra Andreeva announces Rolex sponsorship

By David Kane Jan 28, 2025
The Business of Tennis

The future of tennis? We watched Tien upset Medvedev on the Australian Open’s AO Animated livestream to find out

By Stephanie Livaudais Jan 16, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Coco Gauff invests in Unrivaled women’s basketball league

By Liya Davidov Jan 07, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka departs IMG for Naomi Osaka's EVOLVE agency: "A multi-faceted icon with limitless potential"

By Matt Fitzgerald Jan 04, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Jannik Sinner dominates ATP prize money leaders for 2024 with 19.7 million dollars

By John Berkok Dec 26, 2024
The Business of Tennis

Kim Clijsters joins Tom Brady as co-owners for Major League Pickleball team

The former world No. 1 is taking on a big role in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, one that has already won over the likes of tennis standouts Sam Querrey and Noah Rubin.

ByDavid Kane

Published Oct 13, 2022

The Break: Clijsters Retires, Federer Plans Comeback
WATCH: Clijsters announced her final retirement from tennis earlier this spring.

Advertising

Kim Clijsters is trading in her racquet for a paddle as she signs on as co-owner for Major League Pickleball alongside NFL star Tom Brady.

A rival league to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), Major League Pickleball launched in 2021 with 12 teams, and will expand to 16 as it plans to double its schedule in 2023.

Tennis’ pickleball invasion continues in all areas of the sport as former pros Sam Querrey and Noah Rubin have both set their sights on mounting pickleball careers next season.

Rubin, who previously announced an indefinite break from tennis, is particularly excited to transition to pickleball, feeling the court’s smaller dimensions will neutralize the drawbacks of his 5’9” frame.

"When you see something like pickleball coming in and so quickly taking over, the knee-jerk reaction is like, 'Get the f--- out of here,'" Rubin said in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "No chance is this [sport] going to be anything, no chance is this worth a look. But then I put my ego aside, and I was like, 'Wow, I get it now. This all makes sense.'"

Advertising

“What excites me the most about becoming an MLP owner is that I get to help shape the future of pickleball, a sport I have come to love, with great people—who also happen to be some of my best friends,” said Clijsters. “I'm thrilled to help showcase professional pickleball and make an impact on the sport through my experience gained in the top levels of professional tennis.”

Clijsters, representing Knighthead Capital Management, joins fellow former tennis star James Blake among MLP’s high-profile investors, a roster that also includes LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Kevin Love.