The Walgreens Open at the Las Vegas Strip continued Saturday with men’s doubles semifinal action. Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu battled back from a slow start to defeat the No. 2 seeds Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin, earning their spot in Sunday’s championship match.
The PPA Tour event brings together top professional pickleball players competing for a chance to win one of the most exciting tournaments on the calendar. The men’s doubles semifinals saw high-level competition and dramatic swings of momentum.
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Semifinal Action
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu trailed 3-10 in Game 1 and faced game point against Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin. From there, the No. 3 seeds scored nine straight points on a single serve to take the lead. They carried that momentum into the second game, finishing with a dominant performance.
After the match, Andrei Daescu praised Christian Alshon for adjusting their approach during the tough opening stretch.
“We weren’t playing our best and [Staksrud and Patriquin] were definitely connecting really well to start,
and we just knew we had to stop the momentum and try to create a little bit of our own. Christian made a great tactical call there, and we started putting some points together. Pickleball is a game of runs, and we made a big run just like they did.”(Andrei Daescu )
Looking Ahead
Sunday’s final will be the fourth meeting between Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu and the team of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio. Alshon and Daescu won their first matchup in the Mesa Cup final in a five-game battle, but Johns and Tardio claimed victories in Atlanta and San Clemente.
Meanwhile, Eric Oncins and Matt Wright will play Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in the bronze medal match, also scheduled for Sunday.
What This Means
The comeback victory for Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu highlights their resilience and ability to adjust under pressure. Fans now look forward to a highly anticipated final that continues one of pickleball’s most competitive rivalries.
News in Brief: Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu rallied past Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in the Walgreens Open men’s doubles semifinals in Las Vegas. After a slow start, they turned the match with a nine-point run. They will face Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio in the final, while Oncins and Wright meet Staksrud and Patriquin for bronze.
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