Pickleball Women’s Doubles Final Showdown: Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson came back from a tough first game to defeat Jackie and Jade Kawamoto 4-11, 11-1, 11-7 in the Veolia North Carolina Open semifinals at Cary Tennis Park. The win on Friday sends them to their second PPA final as a team.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
The No. 3 seeds had a rocky beginning. They struggled in the first game, losing 4-11 to the No. 6 seeded Kawamoto sisters. But a smart switch in court positioning—putting Johnson on the left and Black on the right—helped change their rhythm.
That adjustment sparked a huge turnaround. Black and Johnson dominated the second game 11-1, showing sharper teamwork and energy. With momentum on their side, they pushed through the third game, taking control and never looking back.
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Defense Leads the Way
Black made key defensive plays to keep rallies alive.
“That defense was just my tennis game, honestly,”. “I was super scrappy and did whatever I had to in order to get the ball back and make my opponents hit one more shot, and that kind of transferred over to my pickleball game.”(Tyra Black)
Their strong performance was a needed boost after a disappointing exit last week.
“I just really enjoy being out here battling with Tyra. It’s really fun both in MLP and PPA,”. “I had a bit of a rough weekend last time out in Utah, so I’m happy to bounce back. That’s team chemistry right there.”(Tyra Black)
A Big Final Awaits
Black and Johnson will now face top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in the final. Waters and Parenteau had earlier defeated Lacy Schneemann and Parris Todd to secure their spot.
This marks a big moment for the Dallas Flash teammates, who continue to grow stronger as a pair with each match.
News in Brief: Pickleball Women’s Doubles Final Showdown
Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson overcame a slow start to beat Jackie and Jade Kawamoto 4-11, 11-1, 11-7 at the Veolia North Carolina Open. The win sends them to their second PPA final, where they will face top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in Cary, North Carolina.
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