Gabe Tardio competing at the Veolia North Carolina Open.
Gabe Tardio competing at the Veolia North Carolina Open. PPA Tour

Tardio doubles down, defeats Bellamy in straight games for men’s singles gold

Gabe Tardio already had one title secured before taking the court for the men’s singles final against Roscoe Bellamy.

After an 11-9, 11-5 victory over the No. 10 seed, the teenage sensation is now two for two in the Tar Heel State.

Bellamy—who was making his first Championship Sunday appearance—started off the stronger of the two competitors and jumped out to a 9-4 lead with some precise backhand passing shots.

From there, though, Tardio reeled off the final seven points of the opening game with some crafty kitchen play, expertly moving the six-foot-five Bellamy around the non-volley zone to find the open court.

Guided by expert coaching from his doubles partners Ben Johns and Jessie Irvine, Tardio went on to comfortably take the second game to secure his second PPA singles title of his career, as well as his second gold of the day in North Carolina.

 

The 19-year-old thanked Johns and Irvine for their help and guidance.

“I definitely have to give props to Ben and Jessie,” he mentioned. “They were telling me exactly what to do, and I was just trying to listen and do what they were telling me.”

Top seed Federico Staksrud took home the bronze medal in men’s singles after No. 17 seed Zane Ford withdrew ahead of the match after injuring his right ankle in the semifinals.