The Veolia Arizona Open men’s doubles final was electric from start to finish.

No. 2 seeds Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu versus No. 15 seeds Nico Acevedo and Yuta Funemizu.  

If there’s one thing we know about Alshon, it’s that he’s going to be a little emotional. I don’t mean that as a negative in the slightest. In fact, I love watching the emotional players. As a spectator, it makes the matches and gameplay that much more entertaining. Players like Alshon show their passion with such fervor. I respect it. Can it be over the top? Of course. But it’s fun. It gives us immaculate highlight reels and sparks good online debate.

Alshon and Daescu won the first game 11-7, before dropping the second 7-11.

Traditionally, at the end of every game, players are expected to meet at the net and tap paddles or shake hands to show respect and good sportsmanship. Sometimes a player won’t do that, but it’s rare.

Following the second stanza, Alshon didn't paddle tap. Instead, he just walked off. In response, Acevedo waved goodbye to Alshon, which is undoubtedly one of the funniest replies I’ve seen on the pro circuit.

As expected, Alshon received a lot of criticism for this. But it’s not his first time, nor will it be his last.

Fellow pro Zane Navratil had this to say about Alshon’s refusal to tap paddles.

“If you don’t want to paddle tap, so be it,” he explained. “But at least be consistent. Paddle tapping after you win a game, but not after you lose a game, it’s soft.” 

I have to agree with Navratil. Be consistent. If you’re not going to paddle tap, that’s fine. But it’s the inconsistency that makes Alshon look like a sore loser midway through a match he eventually went on to win.

Emotions are good for pro athletes, but when those emotions get in the way of sportsmanship, that’s when people have a problem with it.

Refusing to tap paddles is a bold move, but not completely out of character for Alshon. Alshon has flicked off his opponents, done his fair share of trash talking, and even flicked off the crowd of opposing fans in MLP. Is refusing to tap paddles in the finals just another one of Alshon’s antics? The kind where the pickleball community criticizes him for it, then forgets about it by the next tournament? Is it really that big of a deal?

Alshon could be the kind of player who plays better when he’s in a more heightened, emotional state. Perhaps refusing to tap paddles helped fuel his anger to ultimately help him play a better game.

Or is this a good strategy? All press is good press, and in a digital age where relevancy is king, is this another way to simply keep the people talking?

Honestly, a part of me is glad he didn’t tap paddles because then we wouldn’t have this hilarious moment of Acevedo waving goodbye to him.

What do you think? Should pros always tap paddles, or is it okay to skip it like Alshon? Let us know on Instagram.