Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Stun Rivals: The Walgreens Open at the Las Vegas Strip continued Saturday with semifinal action in the men’s doubles main draw. Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio dominated Eric Oncins and Matt Wright, the No. 10 seeds, winning 11-1, 11-2. Johns and Tardio’s strong teamwork and quick attacks impressed fans and secured their spot in the finals.
The PPA Tour event attracts top professional pickleball players competing for championship titles. The men’s doubles semifinals featured highly ranked teams aiming to reach Sunday’s final.
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Semifinal Action
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio started the semifinals with a commanding win over Eric Oncins and Matt Wright. The top seeds showed fast, precise shots and strong coordination. Tardio impressed with his off-the-bounce speedups from the right side, keeping opponents on the defensive.
Despite the calculated attacks, Tardio said he usually relies on instinct in the moment.
“Most of the time I don’t even know what I’m doing. I just look for kind of a floaty dink so I can put pace on it and a little bit of spin, but that’s about it. I just go with my instincts.”(Gabe Tardio)
Johns and Tardio will face Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu in Sunday’s final. The two teams have met three times before. Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu won the first match at the Mesa Cup final in a five-game thriller, but Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio won the two most recent meetings in Atlanta and San Clemente.
What This Means
The win gives Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio momentum heading into the finals. Fans are eager to see if the top seeds can continue their winning streak and capture the championship at the Las Vegas Strip.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio Stun Rivals
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio crushed Eric Oncins and Matt Wright 11-1, 11-2 to reach the men’s doubles final at the Walgreens Open in Las Vegas. They will face Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, continuing a heated rivalry. Tardio relied on instincts and fast attacks to dominate the match.
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