Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Overcome Quarterfinals: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns secured a spot in the Proton Tucson Open mixed doubles semifinals after a hard-fought 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 victory over No. 6 seeds Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu. The match, held at the Tucson Racquet and Tennis Club, lasted over an hour.
The first two games were evenly matched, with both teams claiming a win by identical scores. In the third game, Waters and Johns built a commanding 7-0 lead, but Pisnik and Daescu fought back to tie the score. Despite the comeback, Waters and Johns managed to close out the match.
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Intense Battle for a Semifinal Spot
Waters and Johns, one of the strongest teams in pickleball, faced a tough challenge from Pisnik and Daescu. Daescu’s reach and Pisnik’s steady play made it difficult for the top-seeded duo to control the match.
The third game saw dramatic swings in momentum. After Waters and Johns’ quick start, Pisnik and Daescu responded with seven straight points. However, the top seeds remained composed and finished strong to claim the win.
Waters Reflects on the Victory
After the match, Waters analyzed their performance and the adjustments needed. She noted that their opponents’ strengths made it difficult to find openings.
“I felt like we were playing into a lot of their strengths. Andrei’s a huge guy, so he can reach a lot of balls in the middle, and then Tina is just so steady. I felt like I was hitting to that middle spot to Tina a little too much and not going behind Andrei enough, even though it sometimes feels impossible to hit a ball that Andrei can’t reach,”-(Anna Leigh Waters)
She also admitted that she let up in the final game but took it as a lesson.
“I think in the third game I got a little complacent, but it was a good lesson for me not to do that again.”-(Anna Leigh Waters)
What’s Next in the Tournament?
With the win, Waters and Johns move one step closer to the championship. They will face another tough opponent in the semifinals as they continue their run for the title.
The Proton Tucson Open has already delivered exciting matches, and with the semifinals approaching, fans can expect even more high-level competition. Matches can be watched live on Pickleballtv or streamed on the Pickleballtv app.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Overcome Quarterfinals
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns defeated Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 to reach the Proton Tucson Open mixed doubles semifinals. After a strong start in the third game, they held off a comeback to win. Waters reflected on the match and adjustments needed for future rounds.
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