Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Pickleball Triumph: Top seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio advanced to the men’s doubles final at the PPA Tour Bristol Open after defeating No. 7 seeds Jay Devilliers and Riley Newman. The win came despite dropping the opening game 11-8 in a tense semifinal battle.
A Tough Start Against Strong Opponents
Jay Devilliers and Riley Newman, who rarely team up, came out firing in game one and claimed it 11-8. For a brief moment, it appeared the top seeds might be in trouble.
“They came out and played really well, especially in that first game. We went down pretty quick and they just came with a lot of great shots,”.
“Games two and three, it was mostly just important to be getting to the line a bigger percentage of the time and getting some looks, even if you’re missing some attacks.”(Ben Johns)
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Adjustments Lead to Victory
After the slow start, Johns and Tardio focused on positioning and patience. That shift helped them turn the match around, taking the next two games and securing their spot in the championship match.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Sunday’s final will feature veteran players Ben Johns and Matt Wright, each paired with newer partners Gabe Tardio and Jaume Martinez Vich. The men’s doubles title match will air on PickleballTV from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Pickleball Triumph
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio rallied from a one-game deficit to beat Jay Devilliers and Riley Newman in the Bristol Open semifinals. Johns credited improved positioning for the comeback. They will face Matt Wright and Jaume Martinez Vich in Sunday’s men’s doubles final, live on Pickleballtv from 11 a.m. ET.
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