Men’s Doubles at PPA Las Vegas: At the Las Vegas Pickleball Cup, Men’s Doubles showed a dramatic shift in dominance. Daescu & Tardio continued their winning streak, overcoming Bar & Navratil in the final. The event highlighted a changing landscape, with all lower-seeded teams advancing from the quarterfinals and breaking traditional dominance.
A Shifting Landscape
Men’s Doubles continues to be a dynamic and evolving segment of the tour, reflecting significant changes in the competitive landscape. Traditionally dominated by the Johns Brothers, JW & Dylan, and the former Matt Wright/Riley Newman partnership—teams that have collectively claimed 49 of the 74 PPA men’s doubles titles—the recent trend shows a shift.
Four of the last five events have seen new champions, and the Las Vegas Cup was no exception, making it five out of six.
Quarterfinals Shake-Up
The quarterfinals in Las Vegas saw a dramatic upheaval, with all four lower-seeded teams advancing. In the upper half, #9 Andrei Daescu and Gabriel Tardio set the tone by defeating the #1 seeds in a gripping three-game match. Daescu, returning from a two-month suspension, and Tardio, establishing himself as a premier right-sided player, showed their skills.
Meanwhile, Tyler Loong and Connor Garnett, a new pairing, overcame #3 Staksrud & Wright with an 11-9 third game win. Though they fell to Daescu & Tardio in the semis, they remain in competition for a medal.
Intense Bottom Half Battles
The bottom half featured an intense quarterfinal match between the Johns brothers and Riley Newman, partnered with Alshon. The match was fiercely contested, with Newman & Alshon securing a 12-10 third-game win.
The final quarterfinal saw #7 Zane Navratil and Dekel Bar, a newly formed duo, take on #4 Patriquin & Tellez. Navratil and Bar’s collaboration paid off as they defeated Patriquin & Tellez and later Newman & Alshon in the semifinals to reach the final.
Final Showdown
In the final, Daescu & Tardio continued their strong performance, claiming their second consecutive title by defeating Bar & Navratil in four games.
- Gold: Daescu/Tardio
- Silver: Bar/Navratil
- Bronze: Newman/Alshon
News in Brief: Men’s Doubles at PPA Las Vegas
At the Las Vegas Pickleball Cup, Daescu & Tardio claimed their second consecutive Men’s Pro Doubles title with a victory over Bar & Navratil in the final. The tournament saw a significant shift from traditional dominance, with all lower-seeded teams advancing past the quarterfinals.
Notable performances included Newman & Alshon’s close win over the Johns brothers and Navratil & Bar’s strong debut partnership. The event highlighted the evolving dynamics of the men’s doubles scene.
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