Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu secured their second consecutive men’s doubles title on the PPA Tour with a hard-fought victory over No. 2 seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio. The No. 4 seeds claimed the championship at the Carvana Mesa Cup with a thrilling 11-5, 11-1, 10-12, 5-11, 11-7 win.
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A Battle of Momentum
Alshon and Daescu were in control early, winning the first two games convincingly. They nearly sealed the match in three games, holding match point at 10-9 in the third.
However, Johns and Tardio fought back, scoring three straight points to extend the contest. The momentum shift continued as they took the fourth game with ease and built a 5-2 lead in the final frame.
Key Adjustments in the Deciding Game
Johns and Tardio gained an edge by reaching the kitchen line more often, allowing them to settle into longer dinking rallies.
“I felt like at the line we were definitely favored. That’s what you want—to be favored at the line. That’s usually what’s gonna win you matches.” – (Johns)
But Alshon and Daescu stuck to their strategy, using aggressive third-shot drives and capitalizing on opportunities to attack their opponents’ volleys. The shift in approach helped them erase the 5-2 deficit and take control of the final game.
“For me personally, I was struggling with their drives. They were keeping them down and poaching well, so I think that’s something we need to work on for the next time we play them. I think we’re favored at the net, so if we’re able to manage their drives, I think we should be fine.” – (Tardio)
Staying Mentally Tough
Despite the exhausting match, Alshon remained composed under pressure.
“When I first started playing pickleball, the sport was my life. Now, it’s just a part of my life. Life is so much bigger just the sport that I play or the job that I have. Thinking about that really helps me stay calm on the court, play my best, and not put too much pressure on myself.” – (Alshon)
His mindset played a key role in closing out the nearly two-hour battle and holding off Johns and Tardio’s comeback attempt.
Pablo Tellez and Dylan Frazier Take Bronze
In the bronze medal match, Pablo Tellez and Dylan Frazier defeated Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin 12-10, 11-4. The win marked their first podium finish as a doubles team.
Alshon and Daescu’s victory solidifies their status as one of the top duos on tour. With back-to-back titles, they will look to carry this momentum into their next tournament.
News in Brief: Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu won the men’s doubles title at the Carvana Mesa Cup, defeating Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio in five games. They overcame a late comeback attempt to claim their second straight PPA Tour championship: Pablo Tellez and Dylan Frazier secured bronze with a straight-game win.
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