PPA Kansas City Men’s Doubles Recap: The 2024 Selkirk Kansas City Open concluded a grueling week and a half of pickleball action, held in the sweltering summer heat of Overland Park, Kansas. As the 14th stop on the PPA Tour, the event was packed with drama and intrigue.
Johns Brothers: Unexpected Exit Sparks Debate
Once again, the #2 seeded Johns brothers faced an earlier-than-expected exit, fueling ongoing speculation about their future as a team. This marks the fifth consecutive PPA event where Ben and Collin Johns have failed to reach the gold medal match. The recent drama surrounding a leaked text message and their perceived lack of effort in the last MLP event has only intensified the scrutiny. Many attribute their struggles to Collin’s game plan being countered by a new wave of aggressive play, with Collin yet to adapt to more active roles on the right side.
The Draw: Few Upsets, Top Seeds Advance
The Men’s doubles draw was relatively smooth, with only a few minor upsets early on. All top eight seeds made it to the quarterfinals. Notably, #6 Hayden Patriquin and Christian Alshon pulled off an upset against #3 Tyson McGuffin and Jaume Martinez Vich, who, surprisingly, are still in the MLP Challenger. However, Patriquin and Alshon fell in the semifinals to #1 JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier, who were competing as top seeds for the first time in a PPA event.
Staksrud and Tardio: Dominant Final Performance
The final featured a commanding performance by #4 Federico Staksrud and Gabriel Tardio, who defeated the #1 seeds, Johnson and Frazier, in three decisive games: 4, 8, and 2. This victory was particularly noteworthy for Staksrud, who also secured a bronze medal in both Singles and Mixed Doubles, showing his versatility. For Tardio, this win marks his first career gold medal on tour, solidifying his rising status in the sport. Alshon and Patriquin, having lost to Staksrud and Tardio, secured the bronze medal by defeating the Johns brothers 4-3, reflecting the lackluster performance of the latter team.
Final Standings
- Gold: Federico Staksrud & Gabriel Tardio
- Silver: JW Johnson & Dylan Frazier
- Bronze: Christian Alshon & Hayden Patriquin
News in Brief: PPA Kansas City Men’s Doubles Recap
The 2024 Selkirk Kansas City Open concluded with Federico Staksrud and Gabriel Tardio clinching the gold medal in Men’s Pro Doubles. They won over the top-seeded JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier in straight sets: 4, 8, 2. The Johns brothers, seeded #2, faced another early exit, failing to reach the gold medal match for the fifth consecutive PPA event.
The bronze went to Christian Alshon and Hayden Patriquin, who defeated the Johns brothers 4-3. The tournament highlighted Staksrud’s impressive performance, with additional bronze medals in Singles and Mixed Doubles, and marked Tardio’s first career gold medal on tour.
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