Johns/Tardio v Daescu/Alshon at the 2026 PPA National Championships

Morning a little bit more about that. I'll share in a bit, but Gabe Tardio first server best three out of five. So if you see Gabe a little more urgent, we know why exactly and you're all asking. Well, if Gabe's out of town, then who has been playing with next week? I've got that for you. So in there and the answer is Betty. So Ben and Federico Staxer are the one seed in Arizona. Fascinating twist in men's doubles. Cannot wait to watch the ball right back to Johnson Tardio. So now you've got Andre attacking cross court but right to right, and that's not going to work with Gabe waiting over there. Second, missed it. 10th overall meeting between these two teams. Ben and Gabe have won seven times. One of those wins was in the first final we saw Ben and Gabe come together for in Mesa that was in 2025. The other one was in a bronze medal match. RIP bronze medal matches also in 2025. Sign out 011 so Ben is going to be more than happy to go cross court backhand to backhand to Alshon, which Christian will not be as comfortable with. So we'll see how the patterns develop. But if Gabe is able to just sit on his backhand encounter, that's going to be a tough day for the two seeds 012. What a gift from Andre and it's wide effort pays off so you have to make your paddle a spatula. In that situation, what a get from Andre. Point, I'll take the break absolutely net. 212. Ben Johns swipes it through the middle and the other thing you have Andre to Gabe cross court just reps wise. Gabe, a lot more on the right than Andre over there so. They need to find offense earlier in points, drive it and crash it. 121 Ben loves playing lefty and. Panic there that was all he could do. I like that Andre going down the line behind and that's nice. Played rec with Ben lefty once and he is. Just almost as good lefty as he is righty. It's it's it's absurd how yeah it is. Looks like it's dominant hands. To be honest with you, I'm like wait a second 211. What a play from Diasku wide open middle and that's the quick hitting rallies. Drop it and chase it. 311 that's deep point. Nice start for Dasku and all Sean. They sent me for Johns and Tardio might be recovery from the lack of turnaround time for them. Yeah, again, setting up a clean finish through the middle for all shot. 511 awkward follow up, but again the mentality I like 512. Side out. 151 saw a lot of returns to Gabe last night and making him play everything in transition as well, so we'll see if that continues. And then never get surprised. He's always sitting. Watch him. You can just stare at Ben through rallies. He is looking for a ball out of the air, and if it's short, he adjusts, not the reverse, because the reverse gets you surprised and you miss opportunities. And that looks so easy because the preparation is there. Saw the adjustment right there. Rare miss from Dasku. Johns and Tardio calling their way back in. Similar story to game one of yesterday's semifinal for those that missed it. They would love for you to eventually break that down for us. What happened? What changed the trajectory of that match? As you called it, so 6 nothing for Patrick Lennon Saxford to start. Tardio's first match of the day started 1115 PM. Imagine that. So that was a slow starting Tardio. Not his fault. Obviously that's just the way the schedule worked out and. It became a grind that the hands battles were epic between Hayden and his buddy Gabe and came up 2 points short. And the toll of that huge lead that they lost in the game points that they lost. Just really the life was gone in Game 2 and that went unfortunately for Patrick when it stacks for it very quickly. Yeah, Patrick and fed look like the better team for much of that first game. And now you 652. And if the suggestion box were open to Dasku and all Sean side, what would your suggestion? Clean it up, clean it up. Don't panic. I do not want to see Andre on the left. You have committed to this unless it's dire. You're down a couple of games and it hasn't been close. Aggression is their formula. Yes, obviously you got help there, but hit those points fast 661. Alshon find forehand drives with the thirds. Gabe is able to flash at it. Where it would have been off the tape and still reload the hands. That's not what he just did. Looked easy, it wasn't. Need swings back to ask you and all Sean side. They take advantage of it. Dasku protects his body there on one counter. 862. 862 side out and a lot of work has had to have been done in South Florida. Getting prepared for this difference and the shots that are required. Ben is as surprised as the rest of us are that that didn't go over 682. Just back there on the side of Dasku and. Christian Alshon curious what they might have been really nailing down in those drill sessions with the material peculiarities of the right. Like that one is a shame. Be great learning how he counters and what he can do with the ball coming crosscourt to his backhand. And then Christian being reliable, if not dangerous, I saw Dewey speed up off the bounce earlier. The more they add that they will be a problem. 982 I like it. I like it under and again, Christian said this a lot yesterday to Rachel and it didn't end up going well so, but he has been very positively supporting. But that creates a game point. Yes, it does 1082. Benjohns finishes off the target and game one. On the panel of right side Andre, a distinction you mentioned at the top of this match and all week. Slips one through the middle and there's part of right side Andre being an issue. Now right side Andre and left side Benjohns won a title together, so it has worked. Oops, it was out, but that was it. So all the same, Johnson Tardio opened the scoring in game two. And we see Gabe be passive sometimes. There he lit up everything he saw and his hands are good enough to hang in there with that. That protection. Who's there? It is sunshine protects his hip to the low pocket and Gabe can't believe he wasn't there with the backhand to finish that off. So that wasn't a shadow swing. That was a fool. I want another touch there and again. This team is going to get better and better with Andre on the right. Knows three nothings and he will go full send as he did there. He has no interest in hitting the 20 by 44. He has interest in hitting a Bolivian. And he did not. Wow, that's beautiful from Christian Elshaun there it is much more controlled that time through the middle. One thing we haven't talked a ton about yet is the asset of the size of Dasku on the right as well. Obviously all Sean has it too, but Ben has talked about that pressure that puts on his side, especially with thirds trying to get a ball down on the ground. Second, Gabe's hands are cooking right now, but yes, they're they're an absolute nightmare to put the ball on the ground against. That's why when you get to that position that Ben and Gabe will be ahead. But I like that Christian is firing with two handed backhands here, and I expect we'll see more and more of that from him throughout this 2627 season. Well played by all shots. Seemed like he was buried in that sequence comes out of it and Ben kind of changed back to a backhand there and didn't hit it as well as he wanted and sure paid a hefty price. Sign up. Everybody gets a flag here, Michelle. Not sure how he'd feel about that. Profile shot in the flag. I don't think they get to choose. Looks like he just found out he had to play till midnight. Yeah, that shot. 421 and Ben doesn't need that reminder to put the ball on the ground to Christian. No matter what level of improvement it's at, he will continue to do so. To rangeman is similar to Ben and Gabe coming together and figuring out all of those patterns. Because the minute they lost, as they being Ben and Gabe. Gabe went straight to the practice court with Jesse Irvin and said, how do I play differently with Ben? And it has been nothing short of spectacular since then. Jeez, most of all, gave in that journey. He doesn't play scared now and he hasn't. Since that Mesa final just settled in. As a similar casual mentality, so then Johns there's a couple of players he will play more passive, which is J Dub or Hayden in front of him. But the mentality doesn't change just the execution. Tried to sell it shoulder. At one point there he is lurking. He'll be in the singles final later. Always looking and the guy just said. He loves it, he loves it, he really does. It's one of the fan favorites across the pro scene too. Buddies with a lot of players so. Because there are theatrics with him, but everyone knows how hard he works off the court so those are more endearing to a two years Jesse. Yeah, this is. I like to see the players bring in new thoughts to their lineup for sure. You know that Christian obviously worked with Lee Waters for many years. And then I got awkward and difficult when she wasn't coaching him in finals against her and mixed. That one hurts. Christian Olshan. 92921 point jams up to ask you what a spot for Ben Johns game point quickly. Dave here game two. Yeah, I don't think Ben was sad when he saw this week that they're playing in this relation in this setup. Scramble and the scramble is one thing, but then just lay it just delicate in the kitchen. We're good. Two game points came and went. Don't ask you and all Sean. And at the last chance here in the 2nd. 2101 back in for you from all Sean on the run up to the kitchen. That drop it, chase it, drive it, crash it, all of that. And even a lower can out of the air from all shot. And that's where your force meaning the first volley you hit as the receiving team just. Just give up the kitchen if you have to. When you say give up the kitchen, if you have to just concede it, don't try and push them back because then you bounce and you don't feed the offense and that was a nasty to E roll from Alshon there, OK? Second server. Love the bunting that we're seeing here all around here. Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone. Spend it with the sold out crowd here in Cary, NC. Yep, caniacs for hockey and maniacs for everybody that was here till 1220 last night. I don't think anyone like it was awesome. And I love to pickle under the lights. Big uptick in offense from Christian Alshon and this was the vision when they sat down and talked about it. We can get Christian taking over in the middle with the forehand. Dig still going. That's what it takes. That's going all shot. Dump hats might I add, yes. Big out of the air and tags Ben Johns 6 straight points. Dick yeah, that's a dink that is way too high from Ben. Where's that one? Killer, because he's just trying to lay it in and get there. Game point number three for Tardio and Johns to surrendering 6 straight points. 1082 to go do a tour of Asia that he has coming up. Down goes the Alshon. That was more trying to get out of the way, but that was well in the court. I would love to see that one back of how Ben torqued that angle. Unbelievable shot to start in Game 3. 102 take that. Here's another look, Dave. Point a moment ago from. Ben Johns. Does it just about anybody else? Yeah, Christian sitting hard on the forehand in the middle, which I don't blame him. And that's one of the big changes. Again, it's been a couple of years now. Well, back in the day there were not cross court attacks ever, and that's the evolution of our sport we keep saying. What changed that? Do you think with the cross court attack conversation? You couldn't keep the ball in, so paddle technology and the ability of the athlete you're allowed to spin it in there now, so that's a big part of it. And then somebody just started trying and they're like wait, we were told you're not allowed to do that so. Some young innovative player was like, wait, if I wreck it all the way, just like that ball we just showed. If they're sitting forehand and I get it to their outside hip, that works. Trey just sort of Patty takes it over. After that, I'm think everyone was stunned. It almost brought rain and don't do that. Ben 211 and then one shot from Gabe though. Oh, return the favor. Happening, I know he did it. That is bonkers that happened two rallies in a row. Second server to shank lobs. 212 kind of fight Dasku and also have left in them. Expect plenty. The other thing the elimination of the bronze matches. Does is it will make the championship matches better because you're not going to have to invest time over there on grandstand. Yeah, the wild part of this change is the first doubles team to qualify for bronze that we don't have anymore. Is Ben and Annalee losing last night? That is wild. Well, think about the day Christian Alshon would have had ahead of him. A singles bronze medal match and a mixed doubles bronze medal match. And then the coordination of timing of all that. So this is much cleaner. And quite frankly, while players certainly liked the opportunity, the level wasn't always where we would all desire it. Great points. Target on Gabe. He sits backhand heavy. He can flip over sometimes to the forehand, but well done getting it to the right hip there and not having him. Gabe has that unique. He's able to punch it with the paddle tip down. Don't try that at home. Not sure anyone could try the things gate does. Realized why I created a new word. It's called tardy on this. OK, little run here. That's going all shot back to life. Wide return, a wide return from Ben and then a pretty routine volley. Can they wiggle their way off the hook in game three is the question? And this is where someone needs to step on their throats when they do start giving you opportunities. New sense of urgency here. Chance to go up two at the end change 541. Second, so this is interesting. Usually in mixed we have one of the fellas in the men's doubles certainly playing in it today we don't so that is a. An anomaly here in North Carolina. Is a tag off the tape second server here. So they serve. So Christian brings it back cross court and Ben has left some dinks up. Mr return wide Mr sitter so aiding the cause certainly and that gives you confidence on the other side. Atmos for Ben there. Not sure that was staying in either 842. Another one off the tape and Johns wears that one to make it 942. Nice hand I've catching it there, but wow, still impressive. But this shows and I'm not surprised that we look at these great fans here in North Carolina. The conviction they did not switch to the old personnel for 911 arrangement and might be able to grab game three and then we're talking this whole thing to change. Right side Ben to right side Andre didn't think I'd be saying that this year. Yeah, really impressive and. They're looking more comfortable. They're getting help certainly, but I I like that they're staying with this aggressive approach. Sometimes Gabe just beat you when you get a ball that you like and just have to accept that. 592 see where this return goes. I get it to Gabe Ben says not on my watch. Commanding the line only surrendering a point. He does such a good job as he walks right towards that trophy. He would love to have what a shot from the truck. Paddle out in front does such a good job with that consistent. And then gets the ball down in the dirt. Out of it yet was another couple off the tape. I think he was channeling an older brother. Colin vibes in the middle of that was Ben. 1051 game point number two. 10 five. Yeah, the pace of play of this one versus the ladies literally running 40s back to the line to serve. That was not intended to be an ATP. That was just missed. Two game points sailing away. Johnson Tardio. We'll take it in the moment in game three. Want to move from Diasco second serve? 5102 looking confident. Sky high third, you just can't. You're not going to win when they get a hold of that right out of the gate. 1051 game saying no, no, stop, what are you doing? Gave one of the full sentence involved in that. We don't have that kind of time around here, young man. Do we know what time the flight is? I do not, but it's not 11 PM. Let's put it that way. Game point number four here for Diasco and all shot. Energy is everywhere. In the head. In the bounce, it's in the crowd. The people holding their breath. And then losing their minds. And once energy is unlocked. That's game over. As well, time in. 0024 starts on the panel of. The tall Diasco. Motivated Ben Johns out of the gate here in game four, and he's usually motivated because he has at least one more match to play today. This is it. 001 worse. We'll see if these returns to game continue to make it a struggle to get to the line. About this, ask you and I'll shout allow no points to start. This is where the 305 in a major allows you to warm to the task. Even a little later. Second stroke. Yeah, what else about that change is significant as you look ahead to the other events that are not majors 002 you need to get off to. Obviously you can't have a slow starting game and expect to beat a team. Quickly, they'll get you every time, but as the underdog, at least you only have to beat him twice. Anna Brighton Hayden had done that a few times in finals that were three out of five against the banana Lee before they finally got him. But the start is so much more critical. But this is a problem right here. If this continues, the returns go into Gabe and then the thirds or fifths are not clean enough. Another sequence that holds true. So this is going to be. Interesting to see how much more court Ben takes. Trust me, Ben knows they're not getting to the kitchen. 101 second serve. This one goes by David is anyone's title for sure. There's a. Fish out of water because Andre is not used to paddle and then stay there on the backhand from the right side. Point. 111 Christian still likes when his partner hits it in the net. Some point he's not. At least he's encouraged. Yeah, no, I think it's it's great. And we'll see a new look. Hayden Patrick when coming up too has been very positive. We even heard him say way to get one. I almost fell on the ground when he said that. It is a tardy O and when they get to the line. And the points are grindy. They are going to win more of those due to them being more familiar together and obviously the top seed so 311. The fast strike has to happen. Those returns. It's good. Tardy O and that started with a return to Ben and he got them at least forward. It was a nice little firefight in the middle. 411 slapper shut down Christian that was nice. The Ben Dink travels a little far and Christian goes backhand to forehand. 412 it's cheap and Ben sees that the minute Alshon loads up on his paddle. Now sometimes he will go school zone and hit it about 5 miles an hour and it works but that time sends it full and it is deep. 512 schools that I like that. John's in a jam. Alshon earns the cookie. But frequency to the kitchen earns a big run. See if they can find some fast break points on the side of the two seed here. They desperately need and Christian is playing at a snails pace, not surprisingly. 151 second serve. Sometimes we see Christian pressing trying to do too much and the urgency builds and there was a. Perfect picture of that statement right there. 152 and I think this move for Andre. It may not be permanent. Obviously going to play left side and mix, but Matt Wright did something similar and became very effective on the right side and has played really good. I look forward to seeing him back out on tour. And it's just the evolution of a career. And John's jammed up there. Chess was the target. Oh man, had it just a bit late. But what he's done with that that I like is he's actually having the players cook. It's not just go to a restaurant. Concept and there's a lot of foodie pros. And John's being one of us. Yes, deep there. The run ends. Where do you go from here? If you're done, I screw and all Sean. Forward, don't remember what happened in Game 3. Second serve. Yeah, go big on search to set that up. That's nicely done. 272 side out game, called it out and then flat hand. I think Ben's just going to give it to him or challenge their in ruling at least. Where's the challenge? Gonna hold up result of the rally puts us in. 2372 rally stands, the ball was in loss of challenge. No timeouts remaining one timeout remaining resume play at 372. To pay after point there, though, huge thanks to our crew across the board. PPA Ops Pickleball TV 372. You guys in the booth till midnight. Just it is a full team effort. Point just barely wide for Tardio. 472 the one thing about these two day there is no quit zero. And a very short return started that fast break offense there from Ben 572. Side out another very short return, but Alshon couldn't finish the last one 751. Or from Tardio down it goes 851. Andre not happy with himself at all, and that's. A newness factor, probably with that choice through the middle from over there. You're just running right into Gabe, who's sitting backhand anyway. 851 had time to get to the 2E. What's one of the best dispensive stands ever, but can they win it? The answer is no. Championship point Johnson Tardio. Effort standpoint and then inside out. Andre from the right can't find the court. Number two hold up one more time. 105 down two championship points saved up. And Annalise seems to have injected the fight mentality in a lot of folks. You see Andre screaming fight over there. 510 one. Second, I like it from Christian Alshon the aggression from asking down the line on John's was not a good return again. Very short. 5102 Oh, that's being Andre Gaskin pinned to the corner. He doesn't do that a lot. Now that one got help from the tape, but I like it. One championship point number three. They have set an incredible standard in men's doubles. Let's start with that switch to Andre over to the right. How are you embodying that with a run to the final here this weekend? And what did you learn about your team in that alignment? It's obviously a good start of the season. Games are the finals of a slam. We've been practicing very hard over the summer, you know, Christian and I just super excited to be back with him and compete with this guy. I really enjoy playing alongside him. And yeah, we were mixing some things up. We can play the other way around as well. We got to keep practicing. We got to keep trying to figure out ways to continue to improve. And yeah, not not the way we wanted to go today, but a lot of positives to take from this week. And yeah, it's just the start of the season. So we're going to continue to move forward. Love it. Plenty of positives there and a perfect segue. Christian, when you came back together with Andre Diascu, why did that make sense for you? And how did a run to the final validate that choice? I love playing with Andre. I mean, we've got a lot of energy. He's he's always going to fight. He's very mature. I just I mean, we bring we bring a lot of really good energy. Everybody, thank you so much for coming out. We appreciate it. We'll see you next time. Well said. Yeah, these fans stayed with us till midnight last night. Fans, please give it up one last time for your runners up, Andre Diascu and Christian Elshan only surrendering one game this week to make it to the final. Guys, congrats. We'll let you guys scoot out and welcome the champs to the stage. Gate Tardio's got a flight to catch. So we're going to be quick with this one. Ben Johns and Gate Tardio triumphant. Once again, 18 titles for both of you. What was the most satisfying part about this one, given the fact that you guys were here until midnight last night, sir? Yeah, that's that's pretty late night. I think I've only ever done that one other time in 10 years pickleball. So we'll call it a unique experience. I enjoyed it. It was a good match last night. Good match today. And like you said, I mean, we had fans in the in the heat all week. We had fans at midnight last night and we got a lot of you here today. So really appreciate it. And it's been it's been a special one. Love it. And Gabe, for you, busy last 48 hours here till midnight playing in the final. Now you're taking off to Asia on a flight that's taking off, I think, at three forty five here. So what jumps out to you about the way you and Ben were able to come together this week and win the first major of this new season? Yeah, no, I was pretty excited. It was, you know, it's the first time since MLB. So, you know, winning it's you know, it's going to give us a little momentum. So super excited to get it done today. Like you said, it's been some chaotic weeks, especially after MLB. And now I'm going to Asia. So definitely I've been playing a lot of pickleball. So just looking forward for the next tournament and more tournaments have been. 18 titles, let's get the trophy in their hands. The mayor of Cary, Harold Weinbrach, is here to deliver the hardware as we send Gabe off to the airport. Harold, what an amazing match, the best pickleball I think I've ever seen. You guys are the best in the world and you showed it today. Thank you so much for being in Cary. Thank you to Veolia for sponsoring this event and all those the volunteers that made this such a success. And now I think it's time to hand this beautiful national championship trophy to our winners. Well said, Dave, back over to you. They did it again. And this time it took four, but they are the top of the mountain, the number one seed in the team. Everybody else is chasing.