Las Vegas, Oct. 24, 2025

On the grandstand court at the PPA Rate Vegas Cup presented by Holland America, a matchup that pitted pickleball's established elite against bold newcomers unfolded with electric intensity. Ben Johns, the 26-year-old dominant force in the sport, teamed with 20-year-old Gabriel Tardio to face off against 17-year-old high school senior Will MacKinnon and 22-year-old Luc Pham. What was expected to be a routine quarterfinal in the pro men's doubles turned into a showcase of youthful audacity, with the underdogs refusing to back down against a pair boasting a 45-2 career record. Commentators Jim Kloss and Ava Ignatowich captured the excitement, noting the crowd's growing enthusiasm as the youngsters displayed fearless play, highlighting pickleball's evolving landscape where purists raised on the game challenge tennis converts.


Player Backgrounds and Strategies

  • MacKinnon, a 17-year-old high school senior, has been immersed in pickleball since age 5, making him a "pickleball purist" without a tennis background.
  • Pham, at 22, partners with MacKinnon for their first PPA event together, boasting a 5-0 record after upseting Ryan Fu and Tyson McGuffin.* Johns and Tardio, with a 45-2 record, adapt by increasing speed-ups, targeting MacKinnon's aggressive dinks.
  • Strategies highlight bold speed-ups from underdogs to create chaos, contrasting Johns' patient dinking style


In a match defined by generational contrasts, the commentators marveled at MacKinnon's unique technique. "You can almost tell that he's only played pickleball... almost everything is a roll," said Ignatowich, praising his ability to apply topspin for advantage. Kloss added, "Pickleball [is] more about placement than power. First one to get at the opponent's feet has the advantage." The underdogs' fearlessness shone through, with Pham's athletic resets and MacKinnon's rolls repeatedly catching Johns off guard, forcing the top duo to deviate from their usual patient game plan. This strategic boldness, born from youth and pure pickleball roots, kept the scores tight and the crowd engaged.


Key Moments and Hands Battles

  • Intense hands battles emerge as the match's highlight, with quick reactions from the young duo standing out.
  • Multiple net cords favor both sides, adding unpredictability; Johns benefits from several.
  • MacKinnon's two-hand backhand rolls surprise Johns multiple times, passing him in dinks.
  • Tardio's counters and scrappy winners, like a back-foot shot, showcase elite athleticism.


The hands battles electrified the grandstand, drawing a swelling crowd eager for upsets. "Favorite thing to see in a pickleball match? Hands battle... it's the most exciting part of the game," Kloss enthused, while Ignatowich lamented net cord winners as her "least favorite." MacKinnon's youth granted superior reaction times, enabling ambitious speed-ups from ankle height that even Johns, typically unflappable, mishandled occasionally. Pham's follow-ups, including big forehands after resets, kept points alive, turning routine exchanges into chaotic spectacles. These moments underscored the underdogs' refusal to play conservatively, injecting thrill into a matchup where Johns and Tardio ultimately prevailed but not without visible unease.


Fan Comments

  • YouTube viewers praise MacKinnon's talent, calling him a "future star" and noting he made Johns "scream" and look "uneasy."
  • Comments highlight specific rolls and hands, with one user counting three impressive rolls by MacKinnon.
  • Fans urge PPA to sign MacKinnon and upload prior matches; suggestions for better partners like Patriquin or Daescu.
  • Enthusiasm for the underdogs' boldness, with remarks on their NorCal roots and potential for quarterfinal consistency.


The online buzz reflected the match's infectious energy, with fans on YouTube celebrating the youngsters' performance. "That MacKinnon kids cracked... Damn that kids going to be at the top some day," wrote user SolaceInHD, echoing sentiments that MacKinnon was the court's best player. Others like Athletics005 noted, "I haven't seen BJ look that uneasy cross court before," while krishnakarur645 proclaimed him a "top 5 player right now." Calls for more exposure, including uploading their round-of-16 win, and admiration for facing the player whose name is on MacKinnon's paddle at just 17, captured the community's excitement. These reactions amplified the narrative of emerging talent challenging pickleball's hierarchy.


Summary

This quarterfinal at the PPA Rate Vegas Cup encapsulated pickleball's rapid evolution, as 17-year-old Will MacKinnon and 22-year-old Luc Pham nearly forced a third game against the unbeatable Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio. From MacKinnon's pickleball-pure upbringing on Bainbridge Island—where the sport was invented—to his bold two-hand backhand rolls that repeatedly outmaneuvered Johns, the match brimmed with surprises. Pham's athleticism complemented MacKinnon's aggressive dinks and speed-ups, creating hands battles that thrilled the growing crowd and prompted uncharacteristic impatience from the top duo. Though Johns and Tardio secured wins in two games (approximately 11-7 and 11-6), the underdogs' 5-0 PPA debut, including an upset over Fu and McGuffin, signaled a shifting guard. Commentators Kloss and Ignatowich highlighted the youths' fearlessness, with Ignatowich noting MacKinnon's rolling technique as a hallmark of his non-tennis roots. Fan reactions on YouTube further fueled the hype, labeling MacKinnon a future top player and urging his professional ascent. In a sport blending strategy, athleticism, and chaos, this clash illustrated how young purists are injecting fresh energy, potentially reshaping pro pickleball's landscape.


by Jack Olmsted (for PickleWave)