Christian Alshon and Federico Staksrud competing at the CIBC Texas Open presented by Fasenra.
Christian Alshon and Federico Staksrud competing at the CIBC Texas Open presented by Fasenra. PPA Tour

Alshon, Staksrud outlast Patriquin, Tellez in three games to make men’s doubles final

Christian Alshon/Federico Staksrud kicked off men’s doubles semifinal action at the CIBC Texas Open presented by Fasenra with an 11-3, 8-11, 11-3 victory over No. 4 seeds Hayden Patriquin/Pablo Tellez.

The top seeds seemed poised to close out the match when they got up 7-1 in Game 2 after taking the first, but Patriquin/Tellez ended the second game on a 10-1 run to force a decider.

Not deterred by watching their big lead disappear, Alshon/Staksrud got right back to work in Game 3 and took advantage of some missed dinks from their opponents to cruise to the triumph and make their second straight final as a partnership.

 

Saturday has presented pickleball’s top pros with several challenges due to the relentlessly windy conditions in North Texas.

Staksrud spoke about what it takes to fight through adversity.

“You’ve gotta truly want it and bring a lot of energy and a lot of legs,” he said. “The legs are especially important today just because the ball is moving up until the last second with the wind, so it’s a lot of extra movement.”

Alshon/Staksrud will face either No. 2 seeds Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio or No. 3 seeds Andrei Daescu/Dylan Frazier—in addition to each other in the men’s singles final—on Championship Sunday.