Federico Staksrud’s Pickleball Controversy: Federico Staksrud, the number one ranked men’s singles and doubles player on the PPA Tour, expressed frustration after losing to Alexander Crum, a 65-seed, in singles at the Atlanta event. Posting on X, he shared concerns about the current state of singles pickleball and the equipment used.
Staksrud Questions the Direction of Singles Pickleball
Following his loss, Federico Staksrud posted that “singles pickleball has become mini tennis at this point.” He criticized how the game has changed, saying it’s no longer exciting to go to the net or play strategic drop shots.
“It was fun back in the day to have cat and mouse rallies and hit drops off thirds. I thought it was a little more interesting to watch. Maybe I’m wrong!” – (Staksrud)
Earlier, Staksrud had also commented about the quality of the ball used in the Atlanta tournament. “The ball is a complete disaster,” he wrote, before deleting the post. He later praised his opponent: “With that being said Alex is an incredible player and deserved to win.”
Zane Navratil Joins the Conversation
Zane Navratil, one of the sport’s most influential voices and host of PicklePod, agreed with Federico Staksrud. He pointed to a change in gameplay caused by more topspin.
“It’s a problem. In doubles, the problem is power, but in singles, I think the problem is topspin. Topspin effectively widens and lengthens the dimensions of the court, making covering passes much more difficult. Singles was more entertaining to watch 3+ years ago.” – (Navratil)
Other Pros Weigh In Online
Other professional players also joined the discussion. Ryan Sherry commented on Instagram,
“Yea I def think the players winning PPA’s 3 years ago had the game at the highest level . @zanenavratilpickleball . Also a few players actually had to play 5 sets to win as well @federico_staksrud.” – (Sherry)
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Pro player Roscoe Bellamy added his own thoughts.
“I think 2023 singles was the sweet spot in terms of power, spin and the way the game was played. In my opinion the equipment is now too fast and the ball can be manipulated too much. I wanna see @rsherry1983 winning tournaments again.” – (Bellamy)
What This Could Mean for Pickleball
The concerns raised by top players like Federico Staksrud and Navratil may lead to a larger conversation about rules, equipment, and how singles pickleball should be played. As the sport grows quickly, decisions made now could shape how the game looks and feels in the years ahead.
News in Brief: Federico Staksrud’s Pickleball Controversy
Federico Staksrud, the top-ranked PPA player, voiced concerns over how singles pickleball is changing, calling it “mini tennis.” After losing in Atlanta, he and Zane Navratil questioned the game’s style and equipment. Other pros joined the debate, highlighting growing concerns among top players.
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