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

Staksrud, Tellez into semis after three-game epic

ATASCOCITA, TX - Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez are into their third consecutive men’s doubles semifinal after a riveting 7-11, 11-4, 13-11 victory over Connor Garnett and D.J. Young.

After splitting the first two games, it was Garnett and Young who struck first in Game 3 when they raced out to a 5-1 lead.

The No. 3 seeds rebounded from there, though, and they eventually earned an opportunity to close out the match at 10-7.

At that point, though, the match wasn’t even close to being over.

Garnett and Young saved seven match points before earning one for themselves at 11-10, but Staksrud and Tellez again held their nerve and won the next four rallies to close it out.

It was at that moment that the South American duo let out a collective sigh of relief.

“We’ve had some matches this year where we’ve had match points and still lost, so I was just hoping that it wouldn’t happen again,” Tellez said. “I’m glad it didn’t.”

They’ll next take on Christian Alshon and Tyler Loong for a spot in Championship Sunday.