Daescu, Tardio to face Frazier, Johnson for men’s doubles gold
ST. GEORGE, UT - The last time that Andrei Daescu and Gabriel Tardio played against Ben and Collin Johns, they pulled off a stunning upset against the top seeds at the Carvana Mesa Arizona Cup back in February.
It looked like a different fate may be in store for the No. 9 seeds on Saturday when the Johns brothers took Game 1 of their semifinal faceoff in just over ten minutes with an 11-1 score line.
But the quick defeat in the opening game didn’t deter Tardio and Daescu, and they eventually took Game 2 13-11 to even the match.
Over the course of the next 14 minutes after securing that game, the tandem did something that had never been done before on the PPA Tour: pickle the Johns brothers.
That’s right—just a zero remained on the Johns’ side of the scoreboard on Humana Championship Court as Tardio and Daescu sprinted towards Championship Sunday behind an 11-0 Game 3 rout.
They’ll take on No. 2 seeds Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson in what will be a rematch of the final of the aforementioned Carvana Mesa Arizona Cup.
Frazier and Johnson came through that encounter with an 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 victory and will be looking for a similar result after booking their spot on Championship Sunday with a 3-11, 11-9, 11-5 victory over Tyson McGuffin and Dekel Bar.
Related articles
By the numbers: Wednesday in Atlanta
It was a good day to be a No. 24 seed in the Georgia capital.
18 hours ago
-Will Daughton
Great beginnings: Wright, Staksrud victorious in first match
Things got complicated in the duo's opening match.
20 hours ago
-Will Daughton
PPA hosts Carvana Pickleball For All with Special Olympics at Vizzy Atlanta Open
A feel-good story from Life Time Peachtree Corners.
20 hours ago
-Victoria Radnothy
Todd, Johnson upset Schneemann, McGuffin in Round of 32
Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson were especially strong in the final game.
a day ago
-Victoria Radnothy