Bermuda's leading pickleball practitioner Gavin Manders ensured his Trinidadian campaign ended in golden glory, capturing a brilliant Mixed Doubles Open title at the Pickleball Paradise ANSA Bank Open.
Having previously settled for a hard-fought Silver medal in a grueling Men’s Open Singles final, the Bermudian national director exacted perfect tactical revenge on the final day of competition to return home with a complete set of podium silverware.
Partnering with the clinical Kristin Stepp, Manders navigated a highly volatile knockout bracket before outlasting the host nation's elite tier in an absolute classic of a grand final.
The Bermudian-American tandem laid down their championship credentials early in the playoff semi-final phase, facing off against the dangerous pairing of Nathaniel Alexander and Kayla Teape.
Stepp’s metronomic consistency from the transition zone allowed Manders to play with signature uninhibited aggression at the kitchen line. The tactical blueprint worked to perfection, with the duo keeping their opponents pinned deep behind the baseline to secure a comfortable 11-6 victory and book their grand final berth.
The showpiece final saw Manders cross paths once again with local icon Joshua Arnold—the very man who had denied him single-handed gold earlier in the week—this time flanking the clinical Liselle James.
In a match that completely broke open the conventional tactical mold, all four players produced an extraordinary exhibition of rapid-fire dinking rallies, baseline drives, and spectacular defensive recoveries.
With the Trinidadian crowd roaring on the home favorites, Arnold and James managed to save multiple championship match points as the scoreline extended well beyond the standard threshold.
However, showing immense physical resilience and superior communication under maximum pressure, Manders and Stepp held their nerve. A decisive cross-court winner from Manders finally broke the local resistance, sealing an exhausting 15-13 victory to bring the championship gold safely back to Bermuda.
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