Staksrud ends Harvey’s run, sets finals clash with H. Johnson
Federico Staksrud claimed the second spot in the men’s singles gold medal match with an 11-3, 11-9 victory over No. 30 seed Adam Harvey.
Harvey had put together an impressive string of victories over Dylan Frazier, Blaine Hovenier, and Rafa Hewett to reach the semifinals; he even had a 9-7 advantage in the second game, but Staksrud proved to have too many weapons in the crucial moments and closed out the match in two.
The top seed applauded Harvey’s play throughout the day.
“[Adam] had some great wins today, so props to him,” he said. “He’s a great player with a great backhand, and we’re gonna see him more often in these types of matches.”
On Championship Sunday, Staksrud will face No. 4 seed Hunter Johnson, an opponent he’s become acutely familiar with throughout this year.
The two have faced off six times in 2024, with Staksrud holding a 5-1 advantage in those bouts. Despite the winning record, Staksrud knows that he won’t win without his best.
“I was playing [Hunter] a lot in the first and second rounds during the first six months of the year, but I knew that he’s a guy who could easily be in the finals and semifinals,” he noted. “I’m gonna have to bring my best. If I’m not at 100%, he’s gonna take the title.”
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