Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Reach PPA Bristol Final: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns continued their incredible 2024 run, advancing to their eleventh mixed doubles final of the year with a commanding 11-6, 11-0 win over the No. 4 seeds, Tina Pisnik and Dekel Bar.
Early Struggles Lead to Tactical Shift
The match began as a tightly contested battle, with both teams locked at 6-6 in the first game. At this critical situation, Waters made a crucial decision to use a challenge, which served as a pivotal moment in the match. This brief pause provided Waters with the opportunity to reassess her strategy.
“I talked to my mom and decided to just be more aggressive, and I think Ben somehow knew what I was going for. That’s when we play our best, when we’re aggressive and really dictating points.” – (Waters)
This aggressive approach became the turning point, allowing Waters and Johns to take control of the game.
Targeting Bar’s Weaknesses
One key element of their strategy was to direct shots toward the outside foot of Dekel Bar. By doing so, they effectively neutralized his ability to dominate the middle third of the court at the kitchen line. This tactic forced Bar into hitting higher dinks, which Waters and Johns were able to capitalize on with ease.
After the tactical adjustment, Waters and Johns dominated the remainder of the match, scoring the final sixteen points to seal their victory.
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Looking Ahead to the Final
With another impressive win under their belts, Waters and Johns now await the outcome of the second semifinal, where No. 2 seeds Anna Bright and Christian Alshon will face off against No. 14 seeds Jackie Kawamoto and Jaume Martinez Vich. The winners will have the daunting task of challenging Waters and Johns in the final on Championship Sunday.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Reach PPA Bristol Final
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns secured their eleventh mixed doubles final of 2024 with a dominant 11-6, 11-0 victory over No. 4 seeds Tina Pisnik and Dekel Bar in Bristol, TN. After a tight start, Waters used a challenge at 6-6 in Game 1 to reassess their strategy, focusing on aggressive play.
This adjustment allowed the top seeds to dictate the pace, targeting Bar’s outside foot to disrupt his control at the kitchen line. Waters and Johns then scored the final sixteen points to clinch the win. They will face the winners of the other semifinal on Championship Sunday.
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