Ben Johns navigated the tough challenges of the week at the 2022 US Open to successfully repeat his triple crown, defending his titles in the Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

With the Men’s Singles comeback under his belt already from early in the week, Johns had started his campaign well, coming back from 1-0 down and saving Championship points against a spirited and in-form JW Johnson. The match had shown his ability to adapt and perform under the highest levels of pressure, as he came through to close out a 2-1 victory.

Pairing with brother Colin and looking for a repeat of their 2021 victory, the Men’s Doubles crown awaited. With several rain delays disrupting play, it was a challenge of focus and preparation – one the Johns brothers were well equipped for.

Their opponents Matt Wright and Riley Newman were in the zone, taking off in the first game to a commanding 8-1 lead. Johns admitted the brother duo were usually slow starters, but they were able to find their feet with a timeout. It proved to be a decisive turning point for the first game as the Johns brothers stormed back to capture the first game, winning 10 points in succession.

The momentum didn’t stop into the second game with the Johns brothers accelerating to an early lead. 9-3 was the scoreline, and with victory in sight – another rain delay.

Wright and Newman rallied back to close the gap at 9-8, but the Johns duo turned it up in the crucial points to defend their Men’s Doubles Crown. The final score 2-0 with close 11-8, 11-9 games, characterized by long runs in point scoring from both sides.

One crown remained and Johns paired with Simone Jardim to seal the title. The pair were dominant in their final match against Jessie Irvine and Tyler Loong. Irvine and Loong had made a dream run to the final as the 7^th seeds, upsetting both the 2^nd and 3^rd seeds along the way, setting up a shot at gold.

The final score a 2-0 sweep – 11-5, 11-2.

Johns reflected on the Triple Crown repeat, noting that both 2021 and 2022 had their unique challenges.

“I was more satisfied with this one (2022) due to having some close saves and doing it with a relatively new paddle. Adjusting to changes made it more rewarding,” says Johns.

In the heat and humidity of Florida, Johns put his handling of the conditions down to adapting play styles, pacing himself and ensuring to keep well hydrated, seeming to find the right balance to keep himself on top of the pickleball world.
Congratulations to Ben on repeating his US Open Triple Crown!