Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio, known as “The Counter Kings,” won the men’s doubles title at the Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente. They beat Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin, called “Fedquin,” in a five-game final full of momentum shifts and intense rallies.
Four Top Teams Rule the Draw
Men’s doubles at the professional level is largely led by four teams. They include Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio (“The Counter Kings”), Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu (“Power Forward”), CJ Klinger and JW Johnson (“CJW”), and Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin (“Fedquin”).
These four teams have consistently claimed top spots, leaving little room for others to break through.
Strong Runs by All Four Duos
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio made it to the semifinals without dropping a game. Known for their strong counterattack style, they often force opponents to choose between playing a long dink game or speeding it up and risking getting countered.
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu faced a tougher path. In the Round of 16, they had a close match against Eric Oncins and DJ Young. DJ Young stood out as one of the best players on court. Alshon and Daescu pulled away in game three to win. They were also pushed to three games in the quarterfinals by Travis Rettenmaier and Connor Garnett. However, their run ended in the semis, where Johns and Tardio won 11-8, 11-6.
On the other half of the bracket, CJ Klinger and JW Johnson dropped a game in both the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals. Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin had a scare against Jay Devilliers and Grayson Goldin in the Round of 16, winning 11-9 in game three. After that, they beat CJ Klinger and JW Johnson in the semis 11-6, 12-10.
Dramatic Five-Game Final
In the final, “Fedquin” took the first game. Then, “The Counter Kings” responded with two dominant wins. Staksrud and Patriquin came back strong, winning game four 11-4 to force a fifth game.
The turning point came at 3-1-2 with “Fedquin” serving. Gabriel Tardio hit an Erne winner but was called for a foot fault. After video review, the call was reversed. Instead of being up 4-1, “Fedquin” gave up the serve, allowing Johns and Tardio to swing momentum.
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A few unforced errors from Hayden Patriquin and a winner by Gabriel Tardio gave “The Counter Kings” a 6-3 lead. They held that advantage and finished the match with an 11-3 win in game five.
Big Four Still Dominate
While each of the top four teams has faced challenges from lower seeds, they continue to stay ahead. All four reached the semifinals again, showing their strength. So far, no new team has broken through.
Still, as the season continues, other duos will look to challenge this group’s dominance.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio defeated Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in a five-game final at the Select Medical Orange County Cup. The top four teams once again controlled the draw. The win confirms “The Counter Kings” as top contenders and highlights how strong the current top duos are in men’s doubles.