Federico Staksrud plays pickleball singles.
Federico Staksrud competing at the Veolia Austin Open powered by Invited. PPA Tour

Staksrud moves past Alshon to make fifth straight singles final

LAKEVILLE, TX - Another tournament, another singles final for Federico Staksrud to start off 2024.

He beat No. 4 seed Christian Alshon 11-5, 11-7 to book his ticket to Championship Sunday.

This is the third time that the two have faced off in 2024, and Staksrud has emerged victorious from all three encounters after Alshon’s epic comeback win at the PPA Finals in December.

The No. 2 seed has been playing with an extra source of moral support in Austin after taking home singles gold in Minnesota last week.

“This week I have my girlfriend and my friends from Argentina in the crowd, so that definitely helps,” he said. “It gets a little lonely out there, so it’s good to have company.”

Staksrud’s win sets him up to face Ben Johns, who beat Jack Sock earlier on Thursday, in the final.

Johns won their last encounter in two games at the Carvana Mesa Arizona Cup in February.

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