No. 6 seeds Parris Todd and Dekel Bar secured a spot in the mixed doubles final at the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open, pulling off a stunning upset on Saturday.
Todd and Bar defeated No. 1 seeds Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in a thrilling three-game semifinal, winning 11-6, 6-11, 12-10. The closely contested match had the crowd on the edge of their seats as both teams battled for a place in the championship.
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High-Stakes Semifinal Thriller
Facing the tournament’s top-seeded duo, Todd and Bar showcased their chemistry and resilience in a back-and-forth battle. After splitting the first two games, they found themselves in a tense third game, leading 9-4 before Johnson and Johnson mounted a comeback to tie the score at 9-9.
The final points were filled with intense rallies and dramatic moments, ultimately ending in victory for Todd and Bar. Todd credited their preparation in Austin before the tournament for their ability to handle pressure in crucial moments.
“We got some practice in Austin before we came out here, so I feel like that really helped us and our rhythm and our routine, but there’s literally no words to say what we can be thinking in those big points like that [in the third game]. It’s complete chaos,” (Parris Todd).
Championship Showdown Awaits
With their semifinal win, Todd and Bar now turn their attention to the gold medal match, where they will face No. 2 seeds Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon. Both teams have demonstrated strong performances throughout the tournament, setting up a highly anticipated final on Championship Sunday.
A win for Todd and Bar would mark a significant achievement in their partnership, while Parenteau and Alshon will look to defend their high seeding with a victory.
News in Brief: Parris Todd and Dekel Bar
Parris Todd and Dekel Bar advanced to the mixed doubles final at the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open after a hard-fought upset over No. 1 seeds Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson. They will face No. 2 seeds Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon for the championship on Sunday.
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