What’s the Score?
In the sweltering heat of Florida, the conventional wisdom of professional pickleball—that flawless execution is the only path to gold—was put to the test. Professional player Kyle Koszuta, alongside partner Ryler DeHeart, made a dramatic run to Championship Sunday at the APP Fort Lauderdale Open. Their journey was not defined by clean score sheets, but by a gritty refusal to lose. Despite facing match points in the second round, quarterfinals, and semifinals, the pair survived to the finals, with Koszuta later revealing that their success proved “perfection had little to do with winning”.
Hit it deeper!
The APP Fort Lauderdale Open presented a brutal physical challenge, with extreme heat and humidity testing the endurance of every athlete in the draw. For Koszuta and DeHeart, the conditions were just one of many obstacles. Koszuta admitted candidly that there were “multiple moments where we could have lost,” and perhaps “should have,” yet the duo found a way to rewrite the script each time they stood on the brink of elimination.
The pair’s chemistry was a decisive factor. Koszuta recalled the surge of confidence he felt when DeHeart agreed to the partnership, knowing he was teaming up with a fierce competitor. Their strategy relied heavily on communication to “reduce brain power” required for individual processing, keeping them synced on whose ball was whose during fast-paced exchanges. This connection was vital during a chaotic semifinal match that featured rain delays, soaked shoes, and a bizarre moment where Koszuta offered his partner a fresh pair of socks during a crucial timeout.
Koszuta offered a fascinating technical insight into their survival: the ability to extend points. He argued that top teams force opponents to win a point multiple times, resetting rallies when they seem lost. This patience allowed them to navigate a razor-thin third game in the semifinals where both sides faced match points. Koszuta also pushed back against critics who claim APP events lack depth, stating, “This is no walk in the park, trying to win an APP tournament”. Although they ultimately lost the final—Koszuta humorously noting he has now lost three semifinals and needs advice on how to win one—the tournament served as a masterclass in resilience.
The World Pickleball Verdict
This story serves as a potent reminder that pickleball is as much a mental game as a physical one. Koszuta’s reflection that decision-making and pattern recognition trump raw mechanics highlights the evolution of the pro game. While the pair jokingly claimed they would “never play together again” immediately after the loss, their run demonstrated that scrambling, scraping, and “winning ugly” are legitimate and necessary skills for any team hoping to survive the deep waters of a professional draw.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.