Pro players Ignatowich, Fu, Glozman file formal appeal challenging contract terminations

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Dec 19 2025

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News

Professional pickleball players James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu and Vivian Glozman announced Friday that they've filed a formal appeal challenging the United Pickleball Association's decision to terminate their contracts, a move that made headlines in the pickleball world last week.

In a joint statement released Friday morning, the group of players said they participated in an unpaid "grow the game" educational clinic that they claim did not conflict with their UPA contracts, which include an exclusivity clause preventing them from participating in competitor events.

"We are deeply concerned by the UPA’s arbitrary and inconsistent decision to terminate our contracts for participating in an unpaid, educational 'grow the game' clinic overseas," the statement said. "Nothing in our contracts prohibited this activity. We did not compete in another league, promote a rival tour, or receive compensation of any kind."

The players say they have the support of the World Pickleball Players' Association, a group formed earlier that has pushed for increased transparency and a more consistent approach to contract disputes. The WPPA board includes several big-name pros, including Tina Pisnik, Dekel Bar, Jessie Irvine, Collin Johns, Jay Devilliers, Gabe Tardio and Donald Young.

"This has been an unsettling experience for all of us," Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman said in their statement. "We acted in good faith and sought and received approval from the league-appointed Players Council, even though no approval was required. Still, our intentions and integrity were questioned, and we were publicly terminated. We hope the league uses this moment to provide clearer guidance and a fairer, more consistent process for everyone moving forward.”

The UPA (the governing body of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball) said in a written response to The Kitchen "(We have) received an appeal and will take the appropriate next steps to evaluate."

The organization said when it announced the decision to terminate the contracts of Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman that its contracts with the players are confidential, "however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements."

Parris Todd, who was a late addition to the trip and filling in for another player who couldn't make it, also participated in the event after initially reaching out for permission, but with "incomplete context."

UPA leadership is still reviewing the full details and discussions are ongoing regarding Todd's punishment, which could range from a fine to a suspension or termination. The UPA said it would communicate the final outcome once a decision on Todd is made.

The event in question involved several days of clinics and pro exhibition matches organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo’s Ariake Tennis Park. The players were advertised as "PPA Top Pros" in signage and messaging to participants, and the event ended up being different from what UPA officials were told about, according to the organization.

There also was a tournament with more than 1,000 registered players attached to the clinics, and paddle company RPM was a sponsor of the events. RPM is a brand co-founded by Ignatowich earlier this year that also has Fu on its roster of pro players.

In a statement to Pickleball.com last week, PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe explained the decision to terminate the contracts of Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman.

“The advertising for these events prominently featured their statuses as top MLP and PPA players and champions, explicitly using the reputation and likeness we pay for to promote a direct competitor,” Pardoe said. “This is not a gray area and is a clear breach of their contracts.”

Former PPA Tour and MLP player Quang Duong had his contract terminated for a similar violation earlier this year in Vietnam.

The terminations, if upheld, will effectively end the playing careers of Ignatowich and Fu on the PPA Tour. Glozman only participated in three PPA Tour events this year -- all in the spring -- as her contract was essentially exclusive to MLP.

The loss of Glozman and Ignatowich will leave the Chicago Slice with two roster spots to fill. The SoCal Hard Eights will also have to add a player to replace Fu for the 2026 season.

Ignatowich will continue serving as CEO and lead engineer of RPM, which currently has two models on the UPA-A Approved Paddles List. Those paddles will remain approved for pro play.

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