Nick Kyrgios Joins The Picklr as Ambassador and Equity Partner

Nick Kyrgios has taken an ownership stake in The Picklr, the indoor pickleball franchise network that describes itself as North America's fastest-growing brand in the sport, signing on as both an equity partner and athlete ambassador in a deal announced March 10.

The partnership adds to a pickleball portfolio Kyrgios has been quietly building for some time. He already holds ownership positions in Vulcan Sporting Goods, the equipment manufacturer, and Stack Athletics, an apparel brand. The Picklr deal layers a franchise relationship on top of those product-side investments, giving Kyrgios a stake in the facility and membership side of the sport's infrastructure.

Jorge Barragan, CEO and co-founder of The Picklr, made clear the appeal runs deeper than celebrity reach. "Nick Kyrgios has been someone I've admired for years — his talent, his passion, and the way he commands a court are unlike anything in sports," Barragan said. "But beyond the athlete, Nick genuinely believes in what we're building at The Picklr, and that's what makes this partnership so powerful. Together, we're going to introduce pickleball to a global audience in a way this sport has never seen."

Kyrgios pointed to the social environment inside The Picklr's facilities as the deciding factor. "When I play pickleball, I get more enjoyment out of being with my friends and family," he said. "It's become a true passion." He has noted publicly that the community aspect of the facilities was a primary reason he chose to align with the organization.

In his ambassador role, Kyrgios will appear in co-branded content, attend Picklr events on and off the court, and engage with members on social media. The Picklr framed his platform as a tool to push a specific message: that the sport should be accessible to everyone from first-time players to competitive athletes drilling at the kitchen line.

The deal also has a direct commercial component. Kyrgios's signature paddle, named "The Kyrgios," was unveiled at a media event in Las Vegas ahead of the announcement. The paddle launched with an exclusive window at The Picklr locations running March 11 through 17, after which it will be available through the company's online store as well.

Coverage of the announcement noted some variation in how The Picklr's footprint is described. Tennis Temple cited more than 100 sites currently operating in the United States, while other aggregated coverage placed the network at 500 or more clubs across North America. The Picklr's own press materials did not specify a location count, referring instead to the company as "North America's premier indoor pickleball franchise." The exact figure was not reconciled across sources.

For a player who spent years on the ATP Tour, Kyrgios has leaned hard into the culture of pickleball rather than simply lending his name to it. The equity stake in The Picklr means his returns now depend, at least in part, on how many people walk through the doors, pick up a paddle, and stay.