Quick answer: Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio last won men’s doubles gold together at the PPA National Championships in early September 2026. Since then they have lost the Las Vegas Open final, the Hong Kong Slam final and the World Championships semifinal. Both men are still winning titles, just not together.
The 30-second version
- Last gold together: Nationals, Cary NC, September 6, 2026.
- Since then: lost the Las Vegas final, the Hong Kong final and the Worlds semifinal.
- Not a solo slump: Tardio won two men’s doubles titles with other partners; Johns won four mixed titles with Anna Leigh Waters.
- Expert read: Pickleball.com’s Jim Kloss predicts no breakup, just more offense at the kitchen.
When did Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio last win gold?
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio last won gold together at the PPA National Championships in Cary, North Carolina, which ran August 31 to September 6, 2026. They beat Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu in four games in the final, as covered in our Nationals results recap.
When they lost the Las Vegas final a month later, Pickleball.com noted it was their first loss together since November 2025.
What happened at each event since Nationals?
Since Nationals, Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio have reached two finals and a semifinal together, and lost all three. Men’s doubles results at the main PPA stops:
| Event | Johns and Tardio | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Veolia Arizona Open (Sep 14-20) | Tardio overseas; Johns with Federico Staksrud | Lost first match 11-4, 11-5 to No. 15 seeds Nico Acevedo / Yuta Funemizu |
| Rate Las Vegas Open (Sep 28-Oct 4) | Together, top seeds | Lost final 11-6, 11-8 to Alshon / Daescu |
| Veolia Chicago Cup (Oct 5-11) | Tardio not in the field; Johns with Jack Sock | Lost first match 8-11, 11-5, 11-3 to No. 27 seeds Anouar Braham / Bruno Faletto |
| Hong Kong Slam (Oct 19-25) | Together, top seeds | Lost final 11-6, 11-8 to Hayden Patriquin / Staksrud |
| World Championships (Nov 2-8) | Together, top seeds | Lost semifinal 11-9, 11-6 to No. 3 seeds Alshon / Daescu |
Sources: Pickleball.com (Arizona, Las Vegas and Worlds) and our Chicago Cup and Hong Kong Slam recaps.
Who is beating them?
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu are doing most of the damage. They beat Johns and Tardio in the Las Vegas final and again in the Worlds semifinal, where they led Game 2 by 9-0. Pickleball.com says they have reached the final of all four events they’ve played since reuniting in August, with Alshon now on the left. See Alshon’s paddle and Daescu’s paddle.
Is it a Ben Johns problem or a Gabe Tardio problem?
The results point to the partnership. Each man keeps winning without the other:
- Tardio: won men’s doubles with Noe Khlif at the Kuala Lumpur Cup in September (our recap) and with Hayden Patriquin at the Australian Pickleball Cup in Brisbane in October.
- Johns: won mixed with Anna Leigh Waters in Arizona, Chicago, Hong Kong and at Worlds. The PPA’s Worlds stats recap counts that as the pair’s fourth title this season and 68th overall.
Both first-match exits came with a stand-in partner while Tardio was away (see our Johns-Sock breakdown).
Will Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio split up?
Nothing has been announced, and the leading analyst says no. In his November 10 column, Jim Kloss predicted no partnership change “at least not any time soon.”
Kloss blames a changing game. Faster paddles and the higher-bouncing LT Pro 48 ball reward speed-ups off the bounce, like JW Johnson’s forehand, while Johns still wins mostly by patient dinking. Kloss expects more speed-ups, not a new partner. That is his opinion, not a reported plan.
What can New England players take from this?
The pros’ lesson works at club level too: a team that only dinks lets the other side set the pace. As New England moves indoors for winter, practice when to speed up and how to reset or counter one coming back at you.
For the gear, see what paddle Gabe Tardio uses and what paddle Ben Johns uses. The next PPA stop is the Daytona Beach Open, November 16-22. Our tournament calendar lists events closer to home.
Frequently asked questions
When did Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio last win a title together?
At the PPA National Championships in Cary, North Carolina, on September 6, 2026, beating Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu in the final.
Who beat Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio at the 2026 World Championships?
Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, 11-9, 11-6, in the semifinals on November 7, 2026.
Are Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio splitting up?
No split has been announced. Pickleball.com’s Jim Kloss predicted on November 10 that they will adjust their style rather than change partners.
Has Gabe Tardio won anything since Nationals?
Yes. He won men’s doubles with Noe Khlif in Kuala Lumpur and with Hayden Patriquin in Brisbane.
Has Ben Johns won anything since Nationals?
Yes, in mixed doubles: four titles with Anna Leigh Waters, in Arizona, Chicago, Hong Kong and at Worlds.
