The Devilliers and Jansen Blow-up
The drama unfolded during a heavily contested match where Nico Ruiz was aggressively targeting Devilliers’ body with well-placed shots. In a sudden shift of momentum, Devilliers answered back by unleashing an incredibly powerful “body bag” shot directly at Ruiz. Commentators at the match described the shot as one of the hardest hit balls they had ever witnessed, admitting it was frightening to watch from the sidelines.
The escalation reached its peak when Leia Jansen lit into Devilliers right on the court, calling him a “joke” and bringing up personal, off-court issues. The tension continued to simmer after Jansen walked off the court, with Devilliers following her into the grass, seemingly to further “poke the bear”. Despite the intense emotional blow-up, analysts noted that Devilliers’ aggressive shot completely changed the match tactically and energetically, proving to be a total game-changer for his team, the Bouncers.
Defining the Professional Code: “Body Shot” vs. “Full Bag”
The incident has ignited a wider discussion about the unwritten rules of pickleball, causing players to clarify a distinction that is often misunderstood online:
- Going Hard at the Body: This involves hitting a firm shot at an opponent to jam them up and force an error. This tactic is 100% unanimously accepted by professional players as a legitimate strategy.
- The Full Bag: This is a shot executed when the ball is either going to hit the opposing player directly or sail completely out of bounds. Historically viewed strictly as a hostile, disrespectful gesture, its strategic utility is being reconsidered when used explicitly to swing a match’s momentum.
Unsportsmanlike Context and the Double Standard
The justification of a “full bag” shot heavily depends on the context of the game. For instance, a similar situation occurred when Pablo Tellez hit player Case Campbell in the head during a mixed doubles match. Because Tellez’s team was already ahead by a massive margin (2-9), opponents felt the reckless shot was completely classless—likening it to a flagrant foul when up by 20 points in basketball. Campbell’s team was forced to take an emergency medical timeout due to the head strike.
Furthermore, the unwritten rules change when it comes to gender dynamics in mixed matches. Top players note a prevailing double standard where male players generally avoid rocketing a ball as hard as possible at female competitors out of chivalry and a desire to avoid severe injuries, such as striking someone in the eye or mouth. While female players rarely target other players with maximum-force “full bags,” exceptions exist. Anna Leigh Waters is recognized as one of the few top-tier women who will confidently utilize a powerful body shot when closing in on the kitchen to secure a fast point.
As the game of pickleball evolves and the competitive stakes get higher, the professional community remains divided on exactly where the line should be drawn between strategic aggression and sheer recklessness.
