Overview

• Ford, ranked No. 14 in singles, won the first game 11-0 but dropped 11-1 and 11-4 in the following sets to No. 46 seed James Ignatowich.
• After the decisive point went wide, Ford repeatedly smashed his paddle on the court and then used his knee to bend it before it finally snapped.
• The incident unfolded in front of fans at the Humana Championship Court, where Ignatowich celebrated the upset victory.
• In a postmatch statement, Ford apologized for damaging his “beautiful” paddle and pledged to improve his emotional control on court.
• The episode underscores the escalating intensity of professional pickleball since its surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.