Gabe Tardio Reaches Men’s Singles Final: Gabe Tardio, the 19-year-old rising star in pickleball, has made an impressive run to his first career singles final at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open in Melbourne. Tardio’s remarkable performances throughout Thursday’s action included a thrilling 11-4, 2-11, 11-3 victory over fellow teenager Quang Duong in the semifinals.
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Tardio’s Remarkable Journey to the Final
Tardio’s path to the final was nothing short of dramatic. His victory over Duong was especially notable for his ability to handle Duong’s powerful serves with short chip returns and precision topspin rolls. His sharp angles kept Duong on the move, ultimately securing the win.
“I actually think watching Sinner in the semifinals against Shelton is what inspired me. Trust me, I don’t usually play like that.” – (tardio)
Tardio’s journey to the final almost took a surprising turn when he nearly forfeited his opening match against Robbie Lee. The young player was unaware that he had been called to the court and was seen eating a slice of Nutella pizza moments before his match, with no warmup.
Despite the rocky start, where he lost the opening game, Tardio found his rhythm and powered through to victory. This marks the latest in a string of successful performances, as Tardio now aims to claim his first singles title.
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Pizza: Tardio’s Secret Weapon?
In a fun twist, Tardio’s love for pizza may have played a role in his success. At the Kansas City Open in August, he famously ate a slice of pizza between matches during the men’s doubles final. “I think pizza just gives me good energy,” he said, admitting that the leftover slice from the night before served as his breakfast before his first match at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open.
“I was super late for my first match, and I didn’t even know I was being called. The pizza was left over from last night, and I’m lucky that I had some breakfast ready to go. I think pizza could be the key for my singles game.” – (Tardio)
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Final Challenge: Tyson McGuffin
Tardio’s bid for the singles title will face a significant challenge: his men’s doubles partner, Tyson McGuffin. McGuffin, the top seed at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open, has fought through injuries to reach the semifinals. He appeared to injure his right hamstring early in the day but later clarified that it was his hip causing discomfort.
“Not gonna lie, I definitely banged up my hip in the first match. I don’t know what happened.” – (McGuffin)
Despite the pain, McGuffin pressed on, comfortably advancing through the rounds, including victories over Australian players Lucas Pascoe and Mitchell Hargreaves.
News in Brief: Gabe Tardio Reaches Men’s Singles Final
Gabe Tardio has advanced to his first singles final at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open, overcoming Quang Duong in the semifinals.
Tardio’s run has been marked by his unconventional approach, including eating pizza before matches. In the final, he will face his doubles partner, Tyson McGuffin, who has battled through a hip injury to reach the semifinals.
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