Ben Johns vs Hunter Johnson: Ben Johns secured a spot in the men’s singles final of the Carvana Mesa Cup 2025 with a hard-fought win over No. 3 seed Connor Garnett. He closed out the semifinal match 11-8, 12-10, overcoming a late challenge. Johns will now compete for the title on Sunday against Hunter Johnson in his first singles tournament of 2025.
Battling Through a Tough Semifinal
Johns appeared to be in full control after taking the first game and building a 9-5 lead in the second. However, Garnett fought back and reached game point at 10-9, threatening to force a third game. Johns stayed composed, saved the game point, and secured the straight-games victory.
Experience played a key role in the win, according to Johns.
“When things get tight, it helps to have been in that situation many times before,” he said. “It’s easy to get tight, and the more you’ve been in those situations, the less tight you tend to be.”(Ben Johns)
A Challenging Final Ahead
Johns will now face Hunter Johnson in the championship match. He acknowledged Johnson’s strengths and the difficulties of competing against him.
“I would say he definitely has the best passing shots on tour, where sometimes he’s gonna strike three or four lines in a row and there’s really nothing you can do about that,”. “It’s gonna be a bit of a mental effort to just kind of weather the storm if and when that happens.”(Ben Johns)
Johns and Johnson last met in the Virginia Beach Cup final in October, where Johns claimed an 11-9, 11-5 victory. He will look to repeat that success as he chases his first singles title of the new season.
News in Brief: Ben Johns vs Hunter Johnson
Ben Johns booked his place in the men’s singles final with a 11-8, 12-10 win over Connor Garnett. He will face Hunter Johnson for the title on Sunday. Johns acknowledged Johnson’s strong passing shots and the mental challenge ahead. The two last met in October, with Johns winning in straight games.
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