Rather Kyle Koszuta gave a candid look at what competitive success in Pickleball actually demands.
Kyle Koszuta partnered with Ryler DeHeart for the tournament. After making past the first round, the duo faced match rounds in the second, the quarterfinals and again in the semifinals. “There were multiple moments where we could have lost,” Koszuta said on his YouTube channel, explaining his strategy during the APP Fort Lauderdale Open. “Quite honestly, we probably should have. But that’s not how this story went,” he added.
The tournament, held at the APP Fort Lauderdale Open, tested players not just tactically but physically, with extreme heat and humidity playing a decisive role. Koszuta addressed ongoing criticism that APP events lack depth compared to the PPA Tour, pushing back firmly against the narrative. “A lot of people nag on the APP for having weaker competition,” he said. “But this is no walk in the park, trying to win an APP tournament.”
Partnering with DeHeart was a deliberate decision. Koszuta recalled reaching out before the event and feeling an immediate surge of confidence once DeHeart agreed. “When he said yes, I was fired up,” he said. “Because I knew I was playing with someone who could really compete.” The chemistry between the two was evident throughout the tournament, aided by constant communication and shared energy on court.
“So much of winning matches and trying to win a tournament is about extending points,” Koszuta explained. “The good teams make you win points multiple times. You feel like you had it, but then it just extends.” Time and again, Koszuta and DeHeart reset rallies, forced extra shots and stayed patient under pressure, a trait that helped them survive multiple match points.
Beyond shot-making, Koszuta stressed the importance of staying connected as a team. “I think the second theme of what helps teams win tournaments is they stay together,” he said. “They communicate well. We’re constantly talking, whose ball it is, yours, mine, just to reduce brain power so we’re on the same page all the time.” That communication, he added, extended beyond rallies, shaping strategy and energy between points.
Their semifinal became one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches, marked by rain delays, soaked shoes, and an unusual moment involving a spare pair of socks. “This really did happen,” Koszuta said. “I went over in a crucial moment and asked if he wanted more socks, and he said no.”
The contest went down to a tense third game, with both teams pushed to the brink. “This could have gone either way,” Koszuta reflected. “They faced match points. We faced match points. Multiple.”
Decision-making, Koszuta noted, is what ultimately defines teams capable of navigating such moments. “The third theme is making great decisions throughout an entire tournament,” he said. “So much of it is recognising situations earlier and knowing the right response.” At the professional level, he explained, patterns become automatic. “People say their decision-making is better, but that’s because they’ve seen it before and reinforced those patterns.”
Despite reaching championship Sunday, Koszuta and DeHeart did not go on to win the title. Koszuta spoke candidly about the outcome. “We actually lost this tournament,” he said. “I’ve lost three semifinals. If anybody knows how to win one, let me know.”
The tournament also marked the end of yet another short chapter in Koszuta and DeHeart’s occasional partnership. “We’re never playing together again,” they joked post-match, before conceding that another reunion might happen years down the line.
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