Copyright timesnownews
The Pickleball World Championships witnessed tears and cheers as Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin pulled off a stunning upset over top seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio, winning 11–8, 11–5 to book their place in Championship Sunday. For Johns and Tardio, who had won six consecutive tournaments together, the loss marked the end of an incredible streak. But for Staksrud, the victory meant something far more profound. Moments after match point, he broke down during his post-match interview, struggling to hold back tears. “It’s been a tough year in doubles, and we worked so hard for this,” said Staksrud, his voice cracking. “I’m just so happy that we get to do this, and I have so much respect for them. Ben and Gabe are great players,” he was quoted as saying by pickleball.com. “It’s been a rocky year for Federico and I, and we’ve been doing our best training,” added Patriquin. “We’re at the best tournament in the world right now and we’re going to Championship Sunday. It’s a surreal feeling, and I’m so fired up right now. Ben and Gabe are a team that’s never really been beaten, and it feels so good to do it with Federico.” “It’s the biggest tournament of the year and we want to win the final,” Staksrud said later. “We didn’t want to go play for bronze again. We’ve done that a lot this year, and we wanted to be on center court tomorrow,” he concluded. About Indian Pickleball Association: The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF). About Pickleball World Ranking: PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages. Stay connected with all the latest news on Pickleball, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, tips, and inspiration you won't find anywhere else. Your ultimate destination for all things pickleball – where the community comes together for news, views, and the sport that's sweeping the globe. Follow us at @pickleballnow on Instagram and be part of the community!
