Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud punched their ticket to Championship Sunday with an 11-8, 11-5 triumph over top-seeded Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio at the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships.

Johns and Tardio won six consecutive tournaments together before coming up short at Brookhaven Country Club.

While the victors' play was elite, it was Staksrud’s uncharacteristically vulnerable moment during the post-match interview that topped the highlight-reel.

“It’s been a tough year in doubles, and we worked so hard for this,” said Staksrud. “I’m just so happy that we get to do this, and I have so much respect for them. Ben and Gabe are great players.”

Staksrud shed a few tears after the match, showing just how much this win meant to him.

“It’s been a rocky year for Federico and I, and we’ve been doing our best training. We’re at the best tournament in the world right now and we’re going to Championship Sunday. It’s a surreal feeling, and I’m so fired up right now,” said Patriquin. “I’m just super hyped overall. Ben and Gabe are a team that’s never really been beaten, and it feels so good to do it with Federico.”

From the minute Staksrud and Patriquin stepped onto center court, it was clear they were locked in and ready to deliver.

So what fueled them?

“It’s the biggest tournament of the year and we want to win the final. We didn’t want to go play for the bronze, honestly,” mentioned Staksrud. “We’ve done that a lot this year, and we wanted to play on center court tomorrow.”

One of Staksrud’s most popular shots during the contest was the lob.

Did the changing Texas wind play a part in that?

“I realized that the wind was blowing and lobbing was going to be a little more forgiving. Honestly, I just had to block Ben’s attacks. He’s the best player in the world, and I have to shut him down a little bit so I can give him space,” said Patriquin. “The amount of pressure that he puts on you when we’re returning is brilliant, and I’m just super excited to get this one.”

At the beginning of the year, Patriquin played the right side while Staksrud played the left.

However, they’ve since made the switch. 

“I’ll tell you how it happened,” said Staksrud. “I said I should play the right, and Hayden said 'I’ll show you how to do it.'” 

Patriquin and Staksrud will face JW Johnson and CJ Klinger for gold.