Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio secured a thrilling victory in the men’s pro doubles final at the PPA Tour’s CIBC Texas Open in McKinney, Texas. The second-seeded duo fought through three tough rounds before staging a comeback in a five-game final against top-seeded Federico Staksrud and Christian Alshon.
Partnership Changes Shake Up the Field
The men’s pro doubles bracket continues to evolve following late 2024’s major team breakups, including those of Collin Johns and Ben Johns and JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier. These shifts have led to new pairings across the tour, creating an unpredictable competitive landscape.
Johns and Tardio, playing their second event together, entered Texas after falling short in the gold-medal match in Mesa to Alshon and Andrei Daescu. This time, both Alshon and Daescu opted for different partners, with mixed results. Meanwhile, Johns and Tardio navigated multiple three-game battles, including a nail-biting 12-10 semifinal win over Frazier and Daescu, breaking Daescu’s three-tournament gold streak.
Comeback Victory in the Final
The gold-medal match pitted Johns and Tardio against Staksrud and Alshon, a formidable No. 1-seeded duo. Staksrud had recently held the No. 1 doubles ranking before Johns reclaimed the top spot, while Alshon has been widely considered the best right-side player in the game.
Tardio, eager to prove himself in that role, delivered a standout performance, helping his team rally after dropping two of the first three games. The duo stormed back to win in five games, securing the gold with a final score of 1,(10),(7),7,4.
Tellez Continues Strong Medal Streak
Pablo Tellez teamed up with teenage star Hayden Patriquin to claim the bronze medal. This marks Tellez’s eighth medal in the past year, reinforcing his status as a rising force in the men’s doubles field.
Gold: Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio
Silver: Federico Staksrud and Christian Alshon
Bronze: Hayden Patriquin and Pablo Tellez
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio captured gold at the PPA CIBC Texas Open after defeating top seeds Federico Staksrud and Christian Alshon in a five-game battle. The duo rebounded from previous struggles to claim victory. Pablo Tellez and Hayden Patriquin took bronze, marking Tellez’s eighth medal in a year.