Championship: Ben Johns vs Federico Staksrud at the Carvana Mesa Arizona Open

The good news for the sport of Pickleball: Everyone is getting better. The bad news: is that so is Ben Johns.

Ben Johns so good he starts the match with 6 points.

Classy move at 21:00 by Ben Johns to request to challenge his own call when Fed was out of challenges.

Staksrud's speed (and endurance for that matter) is out of this world!!! Alas, Ben Johns has the upper hand in overall finesse, consistency and the ability to read/anticipate his opponent's moves.

In the first game, Federico Staksrud provided a glimpse of what is to come in the near future. While in the second game he struggled to replicate the same angle and speed, it's clear he possesses the potential. With more training to enhance his stamina and consistency, he's poised for growth. On the other hand, Ben exhibits remarkable composure and calmness, even during the most challenging matches. What stands out is his ability to reset himself after each point. Moreover, he consistently displays politeness and generosity in his call-outs when opponents have doubts. This isn't just a product of hard work and luck; it's a testament to his character as a true sportsman

I'm surprised Federico was allowed to wear those ball-colored sleeves.

That 7 point run from staksrud was insane

What a great match! Fun to watch

I'm suprised they let fed wear that yellow shirt that matched the ball.

Best playing by John's, everyone uping the level of play.

this reminds me of 70s badminton i hope this sport becomes more exciting in the future

Yay!

Great Character; Great to see Ben Johnson very CALM and Cool always; best Character.

Want to lose all your sponsors as quickly as possible? Publicly blame your equipment.

Ben's so good he gives away his own challenges to his opponent.

Nice match!

I'm 40 years old and played ping pong for the army. I played pickleball 5 times now and I JUST beat a guy with a 4.5 score pretty badly. If this game would of been around 20 years ago who knows. Can I make a run at the age of 40? I'm going play today against another guy who is near pro level. We'll see how I do.

❤

He wants people not to move? Wow! What a jerk!

I want these two to play doubles together. Or either one with Sock.