Zane Ford downed Ben Johns in the round of 16 by a scoreline of 11-8, 7-11, 11-3. Ford was the 17-seed heading into the PPA CIBC Texas Open while Johns was sitting at 2.
Ford put the pedal to the metal from the beginning until the end. The 20-year-old has a very high tempo pace of play, similar to a Quang Duong or Hunter Johnson. While he has the speed to keep up in cat and mouse, Ford instead likes to hit the ball HARD. EVERY. TIME.
Game one went to Ford, the newly drafted NY Hustler, fairly quickly, despite the scoreline. He was up early, and used a lot of his momentum to gain a lead. Ben started to come back, but it was too little too late.
In game two, Ben was visibly frustrated by Ford’s “Yeahs” and his antics. Ford seemed to be using them to help himself, not really directing it at Johns, but his boisterousness really seemed to frustrate Ben Johns.
After winning each of his first two points, Johns made a fake “Yeah” yell, apparently mocking Ford. Ford seemed to be a little thrown off by this, realizing he was frustrating Johns. Johns took the game 11-7, forcing a game three
(p.s, something worth saying “yeah” to is our employee shoe discount on Midwest Racquet Sport’s site. Use code “thedink” to save 10% on their massive selection)
In game three, Ford was able to start HOT – winning the first six points of the game and earning the quick side switch.
At 7-2 in game three, they got into a cat and mouse exchange where Ford hit a lob and then a drop shot off the lob return, and Ford won the point.
He was all gas from there, winning game three, 11-3.
🚨 UPSET ALERT 🚨
17) Zane Ford defeats 2) Ben Johns 11-8, 7-11, 11-3 in the men’s singles round of 16
— Carvana PPA Tour (@PPAtour) March 13, 2025
After the match both players came to the net and did a quick shake of hands, so I don’t think there will be any lingering frustrations.
Johns, who is known for his slow starts, had a very middling day in singles by his standards. He beat a “lucky loser” from qualifiers, Kenta Miyoshi, 11-4, 12-10. Miyoshi played for Blaine Hovenier, who withdrew at the last second.
Ford, meanwhile, beat Oliver Frank in three games in the Round of 64. He followed that up with a good win over 13-seed, Yates Johnson, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7.
Ford doesn’t get any rest after the Ben Johns win, as he faces off against Christian Alshon in the quarterfinals.
Another young up-and-comer, John Lucian Goins, is again on a tear also in McKinney, TX. Goins beat Marshall Brown in the Rd of 64, 12-10, 11-5.
John Lucian Goins came out this morning ready to prove that last week wasn’t a one time thing 🔥
How far can he go today?? pic.twitter.com/jVW9AmiTJ5
— Carvana PPA Tour (@PPAtour) March 13, 2025
In the Rd of 32, Goins was impressive with another 12-10, 11-5 win over (14) Gabe Tardio. He is currently playing (4) Hunter Johnson in the Rd of 16.
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