It looks like former PPA Tour pros Ryan Fu, James Ignatowich, and Vivian Glozman will be just that—former PPA Tour pros.
This comes after Fu announced on his X account that the trio’s collective appeal has been denied by the UPA, the parent organisation that runs the PPA Tour and MLP presented by DoorDash. Fu and company had their contracts terminated by the UPA last December after they participated in an event in Japan organised by the Pickleball Japan Federation.
“Effective immediately, the United Pickleball Association has terminated the contracts of players Ryan Fu, Vivian Glozman, and James Ignatowich,” the UPA announced in a statement. “The terms of each player’s contract are confidential; however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements.”
Parris Todd, who was with Fu, Ignatowich, and Glozman in Japan, was meted a USD 50,000 fine and suspended for two UPA events.
Fu had earlier cried foul over the UPA’s decision to terminate his, Ignatowich’s, and Glozman’s contracts, noting that their trip to Japan had previously been approved and that they did not compete in any events, as claimed by the UPA. The three, through the World Pickleball Players Association, later lodged a formal appeal.
“Nothing in our contracts prohibited this activity. We did not compete in another league, promote a rival tour, or receive compensation of any kind,” Fu and company said in a statement about their appeal.
Now, it appears the UPA is standing its ground—never mind the optics of giving Todd a slap on the wrist for what might essentially be the same offence.
