Johnson Siblings Edge Anna Bright and Dekel Bar: Jorja and JW Johnson emerged victorious in a dramatic mixed doubles final, defeating Anna Bright and Dekel Bar 11-1, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4 to close out an unforgettable Championship Sunday at the Carvana Mesa Cup PPA Tour event.
Bright and Bar entered the match fresh off a stunning semifinal win over top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns. However, the No. 2-seeded Johnson siblings countered effectively and proved to be the stronger team.
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Momentum Shifts Throughout the Match
The Johnsons started strong, taking the first game 11-1. Bright and Bar responded in the second, narrowly edging out a 9-11 win. The pattern continued as the Johnsons took the third game, only for their opponents to force a deciding fifth set with another close 9-11 battle.
Trailing 3-4 in the final game, the Johnsons found their rhythm, scoring eight consecutive points to secure the championship. Jorja credited her earlier bronze medal win in women’s doubles for boosting her confidence.
“I went in with a lot of confidence after an earlier win in the women’s doubles bronze medal match, so that always helps. It mostly comes down to trust. I trust my shots, and I trust my partner.” – (Jorja)
Fitness Key to Victory
JW highlighted the importance of conditioning, especially in long, intense matches.
“You definitely have to train for it. We do a lot of fitness all the time back home in Florida, and we mostly play outside there as well. That helps us feel pretty good for matches like this.” – (jw)
Despite falling short in the final, Bright remained positive about her performance throughout the week.
“I’d be lying to say I’m super happy, but there’s still definitely a ton to be proud of from the week for both of us. It’s tough to make finals. The fields are so deep, and even though we didn’t win today, everything came down to the wire.” – (Bright)
Bronze Medal Match Recap
In the bronze medal match, Waters and Johns delivered a dominant performance, overpowering Catherine Parenteau and Federico Staksrud 11-0, 11-1.
Significance of the Victory
The Johnson siblings’ triumph solidifies their place among the top mixed doubles teams on the PPA Tour. Their ability to battle through a grueling five-game final showcases their resilience and teamwork. As the season progresses, both pairs will look to build on their performances and continue competing at the highest level.
News in Brief: Johnson Siblings Edge Anna Bright and Dekel Bar
Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson won the PPA Tour mixed doubles title in a five-game battle against Anna Bright and Dekel Bar. The duo closed the final game with an 8-0 run. Bright and Bar had upset top seeds Waters and Johns in the semifinals. Waters and Johns claimed bronze with an 11-0, 11-1 win.
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