Tyson McGuffin and Gabe Tardio playing men's doubles.
Tyson McGuffin and Gabe Tardio have played two five-game matches today, and they both still have the men's singles final later on. PPA Tour Australia

Late run lifts McGuffin, Tardio to men’s doubles crown over Klinger, Duong

As if one five-game epic wasn’t enough for Championship Sunday down under, fans witnessed another memorable match in the men’s doubles final.

Tyson McGuffin/Gabe Tardio outlasted No. 3 seeds CJ Klinger/Quang Duong in an instant classic that lasted over two hours, coming away with a 4-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9 victory.

It looked like Klinger/Duong would sprint to the finish line when they got up 6-2 in the final game, but a six-point run from McGuffin/Tardio out of the side switch helped them earn a lead that they would manage to keep as they struck gold in their first tournament together.

 

This result is made even more impressive when you consider that both McGuffin and Tardio played in the earlier mixed doubles final, which also went the distance.

Tardio gave credit to McGuffin for spurring him on in the latter stages of the encounter.

“I think it was all Tyson,” he noted. “He told me just to keep going, keep fighting to the last point. I’m just happy to not lose a five-setter twice in one day.”

Despite having already played ten total games, neither McGuffin nor Tardio is quite finished yet. They will face off in the men’s singles final, where McGuffin will look to secure his first PPA Triple Crown since 2023.

In the bronze medal match, No. 2 seeds Collin Johns/Jay Devilliers defeated No. 4 seeds Zane Navratil/Joey Wild by an 11-5, 9-11, 11-8 score line.