STAMFORD, Conn. — Identical twins Angelo A. and Ettore Rossetti believe they set a new Guinness World Record for the longest pickleball volley rally on Saturday by hitting more than 10,000 consecutive volleys without a bounce in exactly two hours.
The record must still be confirmed by Guinness World Records, but more importantly, the Rossetti twins embarked on their mission as part of Pickleball Rally for Charity, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children, according to a release from the nonprofit.
Founded over 100 years ago, Save the Children pioneers programs that address the unique needs of children by giving them a healthy start in life and the opportunity to learn while protected from harm, the charity’s website says. The nonprofit has worked in over 100 countries and reached more than a billion children.
Saturday’s event occurred at Pickleball America in Stamford and was livestreamed on Save the Children’s YouTube channel, where viewers can witness history.
The Rossetti brothers have attempted to achieve Guinness World Records in the past while fundraising for charity and have raised over $250,000 for Save the Children and other organizations, the release said.
Saturday was the fourth time they earned a Guinness World Records title. In 2008, they rallied a tennis ball for 14 hours and 31 minutes, Save the Children says. In 2015, they set the Guinness World Record for longest tennis volley rally with 30,576 consecutive volleys over the course of five hours and 28 minutes.
On Oct. 10, 2021, in celebration of World Mental Health Day, the twins set the Guinness World Record for longest pickleball rally, completing 16,046 shots in six hours and 11 minutes, the release says.
“I was filled with peaceful excitement today honoring our mom and supporting Save the Children at the same time,” Angelo A. Rossetti, co-founder of Rossetti Brothers Pickleball, said in the release. “This was by far the most challenging of our four world records.”
Ettore Rossetti is the head advisor for Emerging Technology, Innovation & Partnerships at Save the Children. He is known for innovating ways to raise money by adopting emerging trends and technologies such as livestream peer-to-peer fundraising, crypto philanthropy and pickleball, the release says.
“My two words were hopeful and grateful,” he said in the release. “I was hopeful that we would set a new record, and I am grateful for family, friends, volunteers, donors and sponsors. Without them, it would not have been possible.”
The release says pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States, having increased by 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and 223.5% over three years, according to the 2024 Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report.
Pickleball has gained popularity among players of all ages, and the largest age bracket is 18-34 years old, consisting of 28.8% of players.
Going into the day, Guinness World Records said that 10,000 consecutive volleys without a bounce would result in a title. A volley is a shot hit out of the air before it touches the ground. The release says that in pickleball, the difficulty is increased by a seven feet non-volley zone on both sides of the net.
Pickleball America co-owner Jay Waldner said in the release that Pickleball America was proud to host the event.
Jay Ross, another co-owner of Pickleball America, said that the sport is a platform for people of different ages to come together for a common cause while exercising.
“We are grateful that the Rossetti brothers chose our facility to host the Save the Children fundraiser,” said Bret Herman, Pickleball America general manager. “It is fitting that two Americans – twins no less – set a new Guinness World Records title at Pickleball America.”
According to the release, the Pickleball Rally for Charity also featured open play and the Rossetti Brothers’ Dink or Drive up and down the ladder challenge, which is played like a version of pickleball chutes and ladders. The players with the most points won gold, silver and bronze Guinness World Records medals.
Participants were also given custom-manufactured paddles for the event from Engage Pickleball. The entire pickleball community rallied around the Rossetti brothers on Saturday.
“Meeting Angelo and Ettore was so great. You will love their energy right away. Down to the core, great guys, very real and incredibly sharp. I am so moved by the charity work they do and with that, everything they do for pickleball. We need more people like Angelo and Ettore,” Salome Devidze, the world’s #1 APP Tour women’s singles player, said in the release.
Zane Navratil, world #2 APP men’s singles player, said he loves “Angelo and Ettore’s ambition, creativity and charity, which makes rooting for them very easy.”
He added that he can’t wait to “see them crush another pickleball world record.”
The Rossetti brothers are hoping to raise at least $10,000 to match their 10,000-volley rally attempt for Save the Children.
Donations can be given by texting PICKLEBALL to 707070 or by clicking here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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