Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Seize Pickleball Glory: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio won the men’s doubles final on Sunday at the 2025 Veolia North Carolina Open, defeating top seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in four games: 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11. The victory added another title to their growing success as a team.
Johns and Tardio Rally to Win
The No. 2 seeds, Johns and Tardio, started strong by winning the first two games. In Game 3, they had a match point after erasing a 3-8 deficit, but Staksrud and Patriquin held on to take the game and extend the match.
In Game 4, Staksrud and Patriquin jumped ahead 8-1. But Johns and Tardio saved four game points and battled back to win 13-11, closing the match without needing a fifth game.
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Johns Reflects on Key Moments
Johns described how the match shifted in the fourth game after their opponents won a close third game with aggressive play.
“[Federico and Hayden] really put the pressure on us in Game 4 after a winning a tight third game with a lot of drives forcing some errors from us, so we just kind of knew that we needed to buckle down, get into the net more, make a few less errors, and play some solid kitchen line points. When things got tight in that fourth game, we were able to convert when it really mattered.” – (Johns)
Strong Season Start for the Pair
This victory marks the pair’s second gold medal in just three events together, with earlier wins in Texas and a silver medal in Mesa.
“It feels great out there. We’re gelling more, getting some great patterns going and are building really good chemistry. We have many more tournaments to come this year, and I’m looking forward to all of them.” – (Johns)
Looking Ahead
Both players will continue competing later on Sunday. Johns is set to play alongside Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed doubles final against Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson. Tardio will compete against Roscoe Bellamy in the men’s singles final. Their win highlights the strength of their partnership and sets the tone for the rest of their 2025 PPA season.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Seize Pickleball Glory
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio beat top seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in four games Sunday to win the men’s doubles title at the 2025 Veolia North Carolina Open. Down 8-1 in Game 4, they rallied to win 13-11. It’s their second gold together in three tournaments.
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