Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Win Mixed Doubles: Top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns won the mixed doubles title at the Zimmer Biomet Masters on Sunday, defeating No. 4 seeds Catherine Parenteau and Federico Staksrud in a 10-12, 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 comeback victory. The match was held on the Humana Championship Court at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
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Match Overview
Waters and Johns faced a tough challenge in the opening game, where they fell behind with a 10-6 lead for their opponents.
However, the pair quickly regained control of the match, winning the next three games with ease. Their dominance in the final games secured the victory, marking their year-end triumph in the sport.
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Insights from the Players
Waters reflected on the growing competitiveness in the sport, noting how players were getting better and training harder.
“Everybody’s getting better and training super hard, and the defense and athleticism that you’re seeing in the sport right now is pretty insane,” (Anna Leigh Waters).
Waters also highlighted the excitement of facing new matchups, such as playing against Parenteau and Staksrud.
Johns praised Parenteau’s consistency on the right side, which allowed Staksrud to take up more space on the court than usual.
“Fed was taking more court than usual, and I think that’s partially due to Catherine being very steady and making so many balls,”. He also acknowledged the strength of their opponents’ partnership, adding, “It’s clearly a good partnership, and I hope we see it more.”(Ben Johns)
Rising Talent from Parenteau and Staksrud
Though it was only their second tournament together, Parenteau and Staksrud made a significant impact, earning a silver medal at Mission Hills, following up their bronze in Kansas City.
Staksrud praised his partner’s defensive skills and gave credit to Waters and Johns for their exceptional performance.
“Catherine is a fighter. Her defense is unbelievable,”. “I think we made them play like three or four more shots than they usually have to in order to put the ball away.”(Federico Staksrud)
Looking Ahead
As the year wraps up, Waters and Johns’ victory marks a strong finish, while Parenteau and Staksrud continue to prove themselves as one of the top teams in mixed doubles. Both pairs look forward to more battles on the court in future tournaments.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Win Mixed Doubles
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns defeated Catherine Parenteau and Federico Staksrud to win the mixed doubles title at the Zimmer Biomet Masters. Despite a challenging start, the top seeds regained control and won in four games. Parenteau and Staksrud showed great promise, earning a silver medal.
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