CJ Klinger/Andrei Daescu closed out Championship Sunday at Pictona with a 13-11, 11-2, 11-9 victory over Pablo Tellez/Dekel Bar to capture the men’s doubles title.

One of the key moments of the contest actually came in the first game, where Klinger/Daescu fought back from a 7-10 deficit and saved six (!) game points before stealing the game and taking the early advantage.

Daescu feels that weathering that storm gave he and Klinger the momentum they needed to find their highest level later in the match.

“I stayed a little longer yesterday and watched [Pablo and Dekel] play their semifinal, and I told CJ coming in that they were gonna try and take it to us early, which they definitely did. They were driving-and-crashing very well, and so we just had to steady the waters a little bit and get comfortable at the kitchen line,” he explained. “Props to CJ—he dealt with the pressure really well and we were able to close out the first game, which kind of set the tone for the rest of the match.”

It did, in fact, set the tone for the rest of the match; Klinger/Daescu would go on to take the next two games to secure the triumph. 

This result gives Klinger his first career title on the PPA Tour. It’s a meaningful way to end a year that has also seen the immensely talented 18-year-old take home silver in Milwaukee and beat the Johns bros at Worlds.

“It comes down to all the hard work and dedication,” he shared. “I’ve been so close so many times, and it just feels really good to come out on top today.”

In the bronze medal match, top seeds Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin beat AJ Koller/Matt Wright by an 11-8, 11-3 score line.