Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau battled past Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher in a five-game showdown to win the women’s doubles final at Championship Sunday of the Carvana Mesa Cup. The top-seeded pair secured a 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-1 victory at the Arizona Athletic Grounds, claiming another major title.
View this post on Instagram
Bright and Rohrabacher Take Early Control
Unlike their previous meeting at the Proton Tucson Open, where Waters and Parenteau dominated, this match was a tight contest. Bright and Rohrabacher gained an early 2-1 lead by using heavy topspin drops, forcing their opponents to hit off the bounce as they advanced to the kitchen line.
“I think it just helps us get in. We want to make people reach for those shots and put pressure on them while they do it. We got a lot of points off that in the second set, even though we ended up losing it.” – (Rohrabacher)
Waters and Parenteau Adjust to Win
Waters and Parenteau countered their opponents’ strategy by improving the depth of their returns in the final two games.
“I think the returns were the main thing. If you can get it in the last third of the court, it’s much tougher to hit good thirds, and I felt like we were hitting pretty short returns in the first couple of games.” – (Waters)
Their third-shot approach also evolved throughout the match. Initially, they drove most of their third shots but switched to more drops when Bright and Rohrabacher began punishing volleys.
“I felt like we were just taking the thirds earlier. We were initially trying to put pressure on them with the drives, but then they started really punishing the volleys and we weren’t getting to the net on our serves, so we had to mix it up.” – (Waters)
Dominant Finish Seals the Victory
After a close battle in Game 4, Waters and Parenteau stormed through the deciding fifth game in just seven minutes. The win marked their fourth consecutive victory over Bright and Rohrabacher, known as ‘The Girlies.’
With another title in hand, Waters and Parenteau continue to prove why they are the top women’s doubles team. Their ability to adjust tactics mid-match played a key role in their success, and they will look to carry this momentum into upcoming tournaments.
“We’re just going to continue getting more comfortable with new shots and adjustments we are making. It was encouraging to see how well we did with them with just a week of implementation, so hopefully that can continue, and we can do better next time.” – (Waters)
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau
Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau won a five-game battle against Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher in the Arizona Championship final of Carvana Mesa Cup, 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-1. Adjusting their strategy mid-match, the top seeds dominated the fifth game to secure their fourth straight win over ‘The Girlies.’
ALSO READ: Championship Sunday: Carvana Mesa Cup Finals Set for Showdown