Former Uruguayan professional tennis player Nicolás Xiviller Pardodeir was arrested Saturday, July 27, 2026, following an incident at a sporting-goods store [1].

The arrest marks a significant legal escalation for the former athlete, as he now faces felony charges involving a deadly weapon in the U.S.

Police said the incident occurred at Tennis Plaza, a sporting-goods shop located in Doral, Florida [2]. According to authorities, Xiviller Pardodeir became angry and began damaging merchandise within the store [3]. The scale of the destruction was extensive, with reports indicating that hundreds of tennis rackets were damaged [2].

The situation escalated when Xiviller Pardodeir allegedly used a tennis racket to threaten employees at the establishment [2]. This behavior led to his immediate arrest by local law enforcement [1].

Following the incident, authorities filed a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is classified as a felony [3]. The specific use of a sports implement as a weapon transformed the property damage case into a more severe criminal matter.

Local police said the arrest followed the reported threats and the destruction of store property [3]. The investigation into the events at Tennis Plaza continues as the legal process for the felony charge begins.

“hundreds of tennis rackets were damaged”

The classification of a tennis racket as a 'deadly weapon' in this context elevates the legal stakes from a simple misdemeanor for property damage to a high-level felony. This distinction significantly increases the potential penalties and legal ramifications for Xiviller Pardodeir under Florida law.