Johnson Siblings Storm Into Final at PPA: For the second consecutive week, Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson have earned their place in the mixed doubles final at PPA Rate Las Vegas Championships, setting up a familiar showdown with top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns. The siblings secured their spot with a commanding 11-2, 11-4 victory over Catherine Parenteau and James Ignatowich in the semifinals.
A Dominant Display
The Johnsons, ranked as the No. 2 seeds, displayed clinical precision throughout the match, capitalizing on some uncharacteristically tentative play from their opponents. Parenteau and Ignatowich, who entered the tournament undefeated as a partnership, struggled to find their rhythm against the focused and aggressive play of the Johnson siblings.
With a mix of powerful returns and tactical shots, the Johnsons kept the pressure on throughout the match, never giving Parenteau and Ignatowich a chance to recover. Their 11-2, 11-4 victory sent a clear message ahead of the highly anticipated final.
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First Loss for Parenteau and Ignatowich
This semifinal loss marks the first defeat for Parenteau and Ignatowich as a team. The duo had previously won their only other tournament together, the 2023 PPA Indoor Championships in Minnesota. Despite their early exit in Las Vegas, the team remains one of the rising forces in the sport.
Another Showdown with Waters and Johns
The Johnsons will once again meet the dominant duo of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns in Sunday’s final. It will be the fourth time this year that these two teams have faced each other with a gold medal on the line.
Although Waters and Johns have come out on top in each of their previous encounters, the Johnsons came tantalizingly close to victory in Kansas City back in August.
Jorja Johnson knows what’s at stake and believes the key to success will be execution and consistency.
“Execution is always important. They’re a really good team, so just staying consistent and staying in our game plan will be crucial.” – (jorja)
Focus on Gender Doubles First
Before the final, the Johnson siblings will turn their attention to gender doubles, where Jorja will team up with Mari Humberg and JW will partner with Dylan Frazier.
While their focus will shift to the gender doubles competition, the upcoming mixed doubles final on Sunday promises to be a battle for the ages.
News in Brief: Johnson Siblings Storm Into Final at PPA
Jorja and JW Johnson advanced to the mixed doubles final at the PPA Rate Las Vegas Championships with an 11-2, 11-4 win over Catherine Parenteau and James Ignatowich. This marks the first loss for the Parenteau-Ignatowich partnership, who had previously won the PPA Indoor Championships.
The Johnsons will now face top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns in the final, marking their fourth showdown in 2024. Waters and Johns have won each previous meeting, but the Johnsons are eager to claim the title.
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