Ever since its inception, pickleball has been a subject of debate in the United States. While many people like it, others simply don’t. Still, the sister sport to tennis has grown rapidly in recent years. But just like any other sport, it’s also not immune to controversies and troubles. Right now, it’s a million-dollar scam that has just rocked the sport!

In what can be called one of the most astonishing stories related to pickleball, the home of an Indiana man was raided by the FBI on Wednesday, owing to accusations of a massive $57 million scandal. Precisely speaking, Rodney “Rocket” Grubbs has been accused of reportedly defrauding 300 investors with his previously owned company Pickleball Rocks. It used to deal in pickleball apparel and equipment.

For those unaware, Grubbs was forced into bankruptcy earlier this year, in August, by federal court. It was due to hundreds of investors calling him out for allegedly cheating them. Most of the investors are either individual pickleball enthusiasts or couples. After going bankrupt, the accused had closed his company. Per the report by The Kitchen Pickle, Grubbs owes the investors a whopping amount of $57 million. But, he has denied such allegations or any wrongdoing though he did admit that he owes them $47.5 million. Prior to closing his store, he had referred to Pickleball Rocks “The world’s most recognized pickleball apparel brand.”

As of now, it’s yet to be known what the FBI was searching in Grubbs’ Brookville, Indiana home. However, the agency has issued a statement in public, urging potential victims to come forward and reveal more details. “The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law,” read the statement. The responses from victims will be on a voluntary basis. But they may prove useful in further investigation.

Meanwhile, the path for pickleball as a sport seems smooth but not completely stable. It’s simply because the tennis authority in the US has cited it as a threat!

Fresh pickleball stats from the USTA reveal potential threat to tennis

Due to the competing nature of both the sports, there’s now an issue of not just fans but also space. How? Well, according to a new report from The Kitchen Pickle, pickleball has now taken over 10 percent of the tennis courts in the US. The concerning news has worried Lew Sherr, CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

In a statement given in October, Sherr said, “There are not enough courts to support tennis growth.” “And court infrastructure being compromised with people playing pickleball on those courts or courts being repainted,” he added.

For the unversed, there are at least 13.6 million players who participate in pickleball in some way or the other. It’s according to a 2024 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Moreover, the sport has grown vastly after the pandemic. It has witnessed a jump of 223.5 percent of participation rate since 2020.

Amidst pickleball’s growing rise, some of the established names in tennis have raised their voices. Earlier this year, 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic said that there will be a negative impact of this sport on tennis.  “On a club level, tennis is endangered,” he said. “If we don’t do something about it, globally or collectively, paddle, pickleball in the States, they’re gonna convert all the tennis clubs into paddle and pickleball. Because it’s more economical,” he added. Similarly, Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian also mentioned that “Until I see a pickleball highlight go viral, I don’t think it’s a real sport.”

What are your thoughts on pickleball? Do you think it’s endangering tennis? Let us know in the comments below.