Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns are set to compete in the mixed doubles final at the 2025 Veolia Cape Coral Open after a dominant 11-2, 11-5 victory over No. 4 seeds Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin. The top-seeded duo made quick work of their opponents in what was a flawless semifinal performance.
View this post on Instagram
A Day of Strong Performances
Waters and Johns were on fire throughout the day. While they did drop a game to Jalina Ingram and James Kaoma in their first match of the day, they bounced back impressively and won the remaining matches in straight games. Their semifinal win was the standout of the day, as they defeated a team that had taken the championship title in Daytona Beach back in December.
The match saw Waters and Johns execute a variety of shots with precision, but it was Waters’ backhand speedup that particularly stood out. The 18-year-old explained the tactical value of her shot, which played a key role in the victory.
“On the right, if you only have a forehand speedup, there are only a couple spots you can go, so if you run around to your backhand, it adds a new element and a new angle. The guy has to cover his line, and then it opens up other places to attack. There’s a lot more that goes into it, but I love hitting that shot.” – (Waters)
Her ability to change the angle and direction of her shots forced Johnson and Patriquin to scramble, creating opportunities for Waters and Johns to attack.
Title Dreams Are Still Alive
With their victory, Waters and Johns are now just one match away from a championship. They will look to bounce back from a disappointing semifinal loss to Anna Bright and Dekel Bar in Mesa. Waters and Johns will aim to get back on top and reclaim their title in Cape Coral.
The pair will now face the winner of the second semifinal, which is between Anna Bright and JW Johnson and Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon. The final is set for Sunday, and Waters and Johns will be eager to claim the gold medal.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns advanced to the mixed doubles final at the 2025 Veolia Cape Coral Open after a dominant 11-2, 11-5 win over Jorja Johnson and Hayden Patriquin in the semifinals. Waters’ backhand speedup was key in their tactical performance as they look to claim the title on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Ben Johns Outplayed By John Lucian Goins, Makes His Mark at 2025 Veolia Cape Coral Open
