Johns Brothers Win Men’s Doubles Gold: Ben Johns and Collin Johns won the gold medal in men’s doubles at the Zimmer Biomet Masters on Sunday. The top seeds defeated No. 2 seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in three straight games, with scores of 11-5, 12-10, and 11-3. This victory marked their 35th PPA title together.
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A Strategic Rematch
The final was a rematch of the October Virginia Beach Cup, where Staksrud and Patriquin had won in five games. However, Ben and Collin were determined to change the result at the first major tournament of the year. Their strategy focused on neutralizing Patriquin’s aggressive offensive play.
Tactics Against Patriquin’s Strengths
Patriquin is known for his strong right-side play, especially his precise forehand speedups and hard counters. To counter this, Ben and Collin avoided lengthy crosscourt rallies with him.
Instead, they played the ball to his corner, limiting his ability to dictate the game. Ben explained the strategy:
“We didn’t really grind crosscourt with Hayden a lot… we liked the idea of going to Hayden as more of an offensive shot than a grinding, neutral shot.”(Ben Johns)
The Result
The tactical adjustments worked well for the Johns brothers, allowing them to comfortably win the gold medal match. With this victory, they added another prestigious title to their already impressive list of achievements.
News in Brief: Johns Brothers Win Men’s Doubles Gold
Ben and Collin Johns secured their 35th PPA title by defeating Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in the gold medal match at the Zimmer Biomet Masters. Their strategic adjustments helped them control the game and win in straight sets, marking a strong start to the new year.
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