PPA Virginia Beach Cup Controversies: This past weekend at the PPA Virginia Beach Cup, the spotlight shone not only on the remarkable talent of the players but also on a pair of controversies that set the stage for a memorable tournament. At the center of the drama were Collin and Ben Johns, two of the sport’s premier players, along with Head Referee Don Stanley.
Doubles Drama
As Hunter settled into his new position on the left, he began hitting powerful drives that frustrated Collin and Ben. They called two quick timeouts, but the real drama started when Collin, clearly upset, walked to the bench at 8-3, claiming the lighting conditions were unacceptable. With no timeouts left, confusion spread rapidly among the players.
Don Stanley, the Head Referee, intervened and paused the match, leading to tense discussions the next morning. This decision impacted two other quarterfinal matches, causing some players to question the fairness of the situation. After a night of deliberation, the Johns brothers returned to play in the morning but fell behind early, losing the second game 11-3. However, they eventually found their rhythm and made a strong comeback in the third game, leaving Hunter and Dekel behind.
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Championship Sunday Showdown
Fast forward to Championship Sunday, where the Johns brothers faced Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud in a tense men’s doubles final. After dropping the first game 11-9, Ben and Collin turned the tide, decisively winning the next two games 11-6 and 11-3. But the drama was far from over.
With the match seemingly within reach, the Johns held a commanding 9-3 lead in the fourth game. As they approached their bench, they failed to signal a timeout, drawing the temper of Stanley, who had warned both teams about the necessity of such signals earlier in the match. The resulting call for “delay of game” cost the Johns a crucial point, making the score 8-6.
The moment, Hayden and Fed gathered back with five straight points, the fourth game 11-8. The Johns brothers, visibly frustrated and off their game in the fifth and final game, where Hayden and Federico dominated, winning 11-2.
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Drama Begins at PPA Virginia Beach Cup
As the dust settled on a weekend filled with intense competition and controversy, one thing was clear: the PPA Virginia Beach Cup will be remembered for more than just the matches played. The drama surrounding the Johns brothers and their encounters with Don Stanley showed the thin line between competition and controversy in professional pickleball.
News in Brief: PPA Virginia Beach Cup Controversies
The PPA Virginia Beach Cup had some big controversies involving Collin and Ben Johns. During a men’s doubles quarterfinal, they stopped play because of poor lighting, which also affected other matches.
In the final against Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud, the Johns received a “delay of game” penalty, which allowed their opponents to come back and win the championship. This weekend showed the intense pressure players face and highlighted the important balance between competition and officiating in the sport.
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