Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez playing pickleball.
Federico Stakarud and Pablo Tellez competing at the Veolia Houston Open. PPA Tour

Sealing the deal: Staksrud, Tellez make first 2024 final

ATASCOCITA, TX - Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez have come close to making it to a final a few times in 2024, but they haven’t done it yet.

That is, until now.

They took out No. 7 seeds Christian Alshon and Tyler Loong 11-8, 11-5 to make it to Championship Sunday for the first time all year.

Coming into Houston, the tandem had made the semifinals on three occasions but hadn’t won any of those matches.

The difference on Saturday at Lifetime Kingwood? Trusting the gameplan.

“We’ve been very close all year,” Tellez said. “Today it was just about continuing to play our game in those big moments.”

Staksrud and Tellez will face top seeds Ben and Collin Johns in the final, and Tellez wants people to be ready for a show on Humana Championship Court.

“We want to give them some trouble,” said the Columbian. “We’re gonna come out swinging and be fiery because that’s how we play.”

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