PPA Virginia Beach Cup Men’s Doubles Recap: In the world of professional pickleball, rankings can be as fickle as the wind. Back in June, Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson celebrated their ascent to the top with a win in San Clemente, officially dethroning the long-time #1 duo of Ben Johns and Collin Johns.
However, the new champions struggled to maintain their momentum at PPA Virginia Beach Cup, enduring a frustrating stretch of five consecutive tournaments without a victory. Meanwhile, the Johns brothers regrouped, re-evaluated their strategies, and ultimately captured the most recent PPA Slam, reclaiming their position as the #1 seed heading into the Virginia Beach tournament.
Johns Brothers Show Their Dominance
In Virginia Beach, the Johns brothers demonstrated why they deserved their top billing. They played the early rounds with relative ease, but the semifinals provided a stern test. Facing the #9 seeded duo of Riley Newman and Rafa Hewett—a team known for their skilled trash-talking and competitive spirit—the Johns brothers showcased their grit, overcoming a spirited challenge to secure their place in the finals.
A special mention goes to the #32 seeded team of Max Freeman and Casey Diamond. These underdogs made a remarkable run through the draw, starting with a victory over singles Cinderella Max Green in the 64s.
They followed that up by stunning the #4 seeds, Tyson McGuffin and Jaume Martinez Vich, in the 32s. Freeman and Diamond didn’t stop there, toppling #16 Patrick Smith and Phillip Locklear in the 16s, earning a spot in the quarterfinals against Newman and Hewett. Their journey showed the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
A Battle of the Titans
Meanwhile, the bottom half of the draw started as expected until the semifinals, where the newly dethroned #2 seeds, Frazier and Johnson, faced off against the formidable #3 seeded team of Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin. The young Patriquin, who seems even younger in person—especially without his trademark trucker hat—has played with seven different partners this year, with varying results.
However, his previous partnership with Staksrud had yielded success; they had won the Sacramento Open together and entered Virginia Beach undefeated as a team.
In a thrilling match, Staksrud and Patriquin pulled off a comeback victory against Frazier and Johnson, winning the match 7-6, 6-5, and earning their place in the finals.
Gold Medal Glory for Staksrud and Patriquin
The gold medal match in Virginia Beach was a treat for fans, featuring just the second five-game final in a PPA event this year. Staksrud and Patriquin continued their impressive streak, coming from behind after dropping the first two games to the #1 seeded Johns brothers.
The final game saw them dominate, winning 11-2 and claiming their second gold medal of the season. This victory improved their record to an impressive 10-0 as a team, raising the question: why not play together more often?
News in Brief: PPA Virginia Beach Cup Men’s Doubles Recap
Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson, the reigning champions after dethroning the Johns brothers, struggled in Virginia Beach, enduring a five-tournament winless streak. The Johns brothers reclaimed their #1 seed after winning the recent PPA Slam and showed their skills in the tournament.
Max Freeman and Casey Diamond made headlines as the #32 seeds with an impressive run, while Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin, the #3 seeds, won in the semifinals. In the gold medal match, Staksrud and Patriquin claimed victory over the Johns brothers, marking their second gold of the season and improving to 10-0 as a team.
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