Texas Teammates in Trouble? Post-Match Cold Shoulder Fuels Alshon-Oncins MLP Tension
What's the Score?
A men's doubles quarterfinal match at the Veolia North Carolina Open between Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu and Eric Oncins/Dylan Frazier ended with an upset victory for Oncins/Frazier, but the post-match celebration by Oncins drew a negative reaction from his new Texas Ranchers teammate, Alshon. Oncins' prolonged celebration without immediately shaking hands led to Alshon giving him "the bird," indicating his annoyance. This incident raises questions about the potential team dynamic between Alshon and Oncins as the Major League Pickleball (MLP) season approaches.
Hit it deeper!
The men’s doubles quarterfinal match at the Veolia North Carolina Open between the No. 3 seeds, Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu, and the No. 8 seeds, Eric Oncins and Dylan Frazier, was undoubtedly the most captivating match on Friday. Oncins and Frazier managed a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 5-10 deficit in the third game and saving five match points to secure an 11-3, 6-11, 12-10 upset victory over Alshon and Daescu, a team that had won gold in their last three tournaments together. The tension, however, extended beyond the final point of the thrilling match. Following Daescu’s final shot into the net on match point, Eric Oncins reacted by throwing his paddle to the ground and turning away to celebrate his team's victory instead of immediately approaching the net to shake hands with his defeated opponents. While Andrei Daescu waited for Oncins to finish his celebration and eventually shook his hand, Christian Alshon did not participate in the customary post-match handshake. Instead, Alshon was visibly annoyed by Oncins’ prolonged celebration and, in a clear display of his displeasure, gave his new Texas Ranchers teammate the middle finger.
This incident is particularly noteworthy because Oncins had recently joined the Texas Ranchers in early March, having been traded from the Miami Pickleball Club in exchange for Noe Khlif and financial considerations. This trade had already raised eyebrows within the pickleball community, as Khlif's PPA Tour results were generally considered better than Oncins' at the time of the trade. However, since joining the Ranchers, Oncins has been performing exceptionally well. In fact, just a few weeks prior at the CIBC Texas Open, Oncins and Alix Truong had stunned Alshon and Catherine Parenteau in a mixed doubles match that also went to three games. During that earlier match, Alshon had also expressed his disagreement with the legality of Oncins’ serve. Christian Alshon played a vital role in the Texas Ranchers' successful run to the playoffs in the 2024 season, ultimately finishing in fourth place. Despite missing significant playing time due to injuries and illness, he established himself as one of the top players in the Premier level, known for his vocal nature and competitive "alpha" mentality on the court. This same intensity and outspokenness can also be attributed to Eric Oncins. Given Alshon’s less-than-favourable reactions to his new teammate's celebrations and on-court antics, there are now significant questions about whether Alshon will be comfortable sharing the court with Oncins when the Major League Pickleball season commences at the end of the month. This tension raises the possibility of Alshon requesting a trade away from Texas before the first MLP event, which will take place in Orlando from April 24-27. Even if a trade doesn’t occur, the pickleball community will be closely watching how Alshon and Oncins will mesh when playing on the same side of the court for the Texas Ranchers.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The post-match incident between Christian Alshon and Eric Oncins at the Veolia North Carolina Open injects a significant dose of interpersonal drama into the professional pickleball scene, particularly within the context of Major League Pickleball (MLP). Alshon's overt displeasure with Oncins' celebration raises legitimate concerns about team chemistry within the Texas Ranchers. In a team-based league like MLP, the ability of players to collaborate and support each other is crucial for success. The existing history of on-court disagreements between Alshon and Oncins, even before this latest incident, suggests potential underlying friction. This situation highlights the increasing importance of not only individual player performance but also interpersonal dynamics in professional sports, including pickleball as it continues to evolve. The question of whether Alshon and Oncins can effectively play together, or if this tension might lead to roster changes before the MLP season begins, will be a key storyline to follow in the lead-up to the Orlando event. This incident serves as a reminder that even in a relatively new and rapidly growing sport like pickleball, the complexities of player personalities and team dynamics can significantly influence the competitive landscape.