James Ignatowich Remains Upbeat Despite Ankle Injury, Discusses Men's Debut with Matt Wright and State of Professional Pickleball
The charismatic podcast host shares insights on his promising partnership with Wright, the rise of "keyboard warriors" in the sport, and more.
James Ignatowich's infectious optimism and sharp wit were on full display during his latest podcast, despite the professional pickleball player being sidelined from competition with an ankle injury. Joined by co-host Adam Stone, Ignatowich provided an upbeat update on his recovery while offering thoughtful commentary on his impressive debut pairing with legend Matt Wright, the state of the professional game, and whether so-called "keyboard warriors" have a place within the rapidly growing sport.
1. Ankle Injury Update (1:04)
Ignatowich suffered what he estimates is a grade two ankle sprain during his quarterfinal match at the recent Guaranteed Rate PPA Las Vegas Championships, abruptly ending what had been an impressive run. But despite missing out on a golden opportunity to capture his first major title, the ever-positive Ignatowich is taking it in stride. "I can't really complain that much," he says. "I am getting paid to play pickleball." Though currently sidelined, Ignatowich remains dedicated to his rehab with the hopes of returning to action as soon as safely possible.
2. Men's Doubles Debut with Matt Wright (5:12)
Prior to the injury, Ignatowich wowed the pickleball world by teaming up with legend Matt Wright for the first time. Ignatowich described the partnership as "awesome," praising Wright's world-class skills and intense competitive spirit. "The guy is just so dialed, he's so focused, he's so intense," says an appreciative Ignatowich. Though their debut was cut short, Ignatowich came away extremely impressed by Wright's abilities and feels they have the potential to be a formidable duo moving forward. "He has a case of being the best right side guy," raves Ignatowich. "It was a pretty cool experience."
3. The Pickleball House (9:22)
An inside look at the communal pickleball training house known as "The Pickleball House," where several up-and-coming players like Jericho Grollman reside. Ignatowich reveals he helps provide the house with paddles, balls and caffeine, joking the residents are fueled by multiple Rainstorm energy drinks per day. Beyond material support, Ignatowich praises the house for accelerating the development of relative newcomers like Grollman. "A year ago he had no idea how to play, now he's a pro," marvels Ignatowich. The house exemplifies how quickly skills can progress in the sport.
4. Mixed Doubles (12:49)
Shifting to mixed doubles, Ignatowich was firing on all cylinders before the injury interfered. When asked about rising star Sam Query's skills in mixed, Ignatowich critiques Query's lack of aggression and failure to leverage his 6'6" size. "He's got to just get big and just make it a problem in the middle," analyzes Ignatowich. He also praises the play of Christian Alshon and partner Tyra Hurricane, predicting Alshon's future is brightest in mixed thanks to his athleticism. "His transition is way better than I thought it would be," applauds an impressed Ignatowich.
5. Is the Gap Still Growing? (21:07)
An intriguing discussion on the widening skill gap between the elite players and rest of the pro field. Ignatowich argues reigning champions like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters need to experience more losses to reach their full potential, similar to his own development arc. "You can't find your ceiling until you lose," he suggests, noting losses forced him to address weaknesses in his own game. While praising Johns' and Waters' abilities, Ignatowich contends they have room for improvement if truly pressed. "I don't think we've realized how good they can actually be," he says. More parity at the top could further elevate their games.
6. More Competitive Women's Draw (24:17)
Transitioning to the women's side of the sport, Ignatowich expresses concerns over the lack of depth and one-sided scores in many women's pro matches. "We need to get as many [women competitors] as we can to make the women's game more competitive," he urges. Ignatowich floats trying to recruit 500+ ranked WTA tennis players, believing their skills could convert quickly to high-level pickleball with just months of focused training. While encouraged by the influx of new female players, he stresses the importance of developing legit contenders who can push the top women like Waters.
7. 411 Update (26:08)
An amusing interlude where the hosts discuss some recent on-court altercations, including a heated exchange between the notoriously fiery Pablo Tellez and opponents Dave Weinbach and Dan Gingrich. "Don't mess with Pablo," warns a chuckling Ignatowich, who relays playing amicably with Tellez himself. However, Ignatowich confirms Tellez appears to be a common denominator in these incidents. Shifting to his partner Matt Wright, Ignatowich shares a colorful confrontation Wright initiated with prominent online commentator Jim Kloss during their match. The anecdote underscores Wright's intense on-court demeanor.
8. Can Keyboard Warriors Seriously Get Involved? (31:10)
An optimistic Ignatowich believes so-called "keyboard warriors" like Jim Kloss who offer strong pickleball opinions online absolutely have a place within the burgeoning professional game. He notes the sport desperately needs more established coaching voices. "There's a huge demand for it," says Ignatowich, citing fledgling coaches with barely two years experience currently. While some "keyboard warriors" draw controversy, Ignatowich feels their passion is an asset. "Pickleball needs people with opinions," he declares, believing vibrant discussion strengthens the sport.
Summary
In the mold of his popular podcast, James Ignatowich blended humor, insight and contagious enthusiasm throughout the wide-ranging interview. Despite injury setbacks, Ignatowich remains dedicated to returning at full strength. His promising partnership with Matt Wright, along with thoughtful commentary on the state of professional pickleball, reinforce Ignatowich's stature as one of the sport's most compelling voices. Whether analyzing gameplay intricacies or injecting humor, Ignatowich's love for pickleball shines through. His upbeat perspective points toward an exciting future as the game continues its meteoric rise.
- 1:04 - Ankle injury update 🤕
- 5:12 - Men's Doubles Debut with Matt Wright at the Guaranteed Rate PPA Championships 🔥
- 9:22 - The Pickleball House 🏡
- 12:49 - Mixed Doubles 👫
- 21:07 - Is the gap still growing? 🤔
- 24:17 - More competitive women's draw❕
- 26:08 - 411 update 📲
- 31:10 - Can keyboard warriors seriously get involved with professional pickleball? 🧑💻
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