Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns’ Mixed Doubles Victory: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns captured the mixed doubles title at the Proton Tucson Open with a commanding 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 victory over No. 4 seeds Tyra Black and Christian Alshon. The final occurred on Championship Sunday at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club in Arizona.
The match marked another meeting between the two teams, who last faced off in the semifinals of the PPA Masters. In that match, Waters and Johns made an incredible comeback, saving four match points to win. This time, they controlled the game from start to finish.
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A Tactical Display of ATPs
A key factor in their victory was their use of around-the-post shots, or ATPs. Both Waters and Johns frequently forced their opponents into wide shots, creating opportunities for these difficult but effective returns.
“I honestly don’t think I could hit great ATPs like a month ago, and my mom and I decided to work on it. They’ve gotten a lot better, but they’re not perfect. Ben makes it easy because I know he’s got the middle if I do end up running outside to hit the ATP.” – (Waters)
Johns’ experience also played a crucial role. The win marked his 60th career PPA mixed doubles title. He credited his ability to maintain high performance throughout the season to the people around him.
“It’s just really nice to have a support system with a schedule like we have, with 20 something tournaments per year. It gets exhausting, so it really helps to have amazing people with you.” – (johns)
More Matches to Come
Waters and Johns will play again later on Sunday. Waters will partner with Catherine Parenteau in the women’s doubles final against Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher. Meanwhile, Johns and Hayden Patriquin will compete for bronze in the men’s doubles category against Rafa Hewett and Noe Khlif.
The mixed doubles bronze-medal match will feature No. 16 seeds Kate Fahey and Dylan Frazier against No. 5 seeds Maggie Brascia and JW Johnson.
Significance of the Victory
The win reinforces Waters and Johns’ dominance in mixed doubles, further solidifying their status as the top team in the sport. As the season progresses, their performance will be key to watch in upcoming PPA tournaments.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns’ Mixed Doubles Victory
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns won the mixed doubles title at the Proton Tucson Open with a dominant performance over Tyra Black and Christian Alshon. The duo used ATP shots effectively, and Johns secured his 60th career mixed doubles title. Both players will compete in more matches later on Sunday.