Christian Alshon and Quang Duong competing at the IHG Hotels & Resorts Bristol Open presented by Deep Eddy Vodka.
Christian Alshon and Quang Duong are one win away from earning a title in their first tournament together. PPA Tour

MLP teammates Duong, Alshon into first final together

BRISTOL, TN - Quang Duong and Christian Alshon are into their first PPA final together after an 11-8, 11-8 victory over No. 6 seeds Jay Devilliers and Pablo Tellez.

The No. 8 seeds found themselves trailing early in both games, but they ultimately triumphed behind a brand of fast-paced power pickleball built on the drive-and-crash strategy.

 

With this win, Alshon is now set to go for gold in two events on Championship Sunday: men’s doubles with Duong and mixed doubles with Anna Bright.

That’s not bad a performance, considering that the 24-year-old wasn’t planning on playing this week.

“I only added this tournament because Anna Bright asked me to play mixed, and I thought we’ve be a top seed there,” he shared. “Once I decided to play, I knew I needed a men’s partner. Quang and I are absolute animals in MLP, and I knew that it could transfer over, and it looks like it has.”

Alshon and Duong compete for the Texas Ranchers in MLP alongside Tina Pisnik and Etta Wright. Their opponents in the finals—Ben and Collin Johns—are members of the Carolina Pickleball Club.

The last time Texas and Carolina faced off at MLP Salt Lake City, Alshon and Duong took down the Johns brothers in a 25-13 rout.

 

We’ll see if a different result awaits in Bristol.