Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Crush Rivals: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns advanced at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships presented by Ensure Max Protein with a strong win on Saturday at Life Time Peachtree Corners. They defeated Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu in straight games, 11-2, 11-6. The match showed why Waters and Johns are the top seeds in mixed doubles.
Quick and Clear Victory
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns came out strong from the first point. They didn’t give Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu much time to settle into the game. Waters and Johns took the first game easily at 11-2.
In the second game, Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu tried to respond, but Waters and Johns stayed in control. They closed out the second game 11-6 to win the match.
Earlier this year in Tucson, Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu had pushed the top seeds to three games. But this time, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns made sure to keep the match short and sharp.
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Waters Shares Her Strategy
After the match, Waters talked about how she focused on moving Andrei Daescu, who is known for his height and reach.
“Andrei is so tall, so I feel like you have to go around him to open up room in the middle. I think that’s what I was trying to do: move Andrei out and then let Ben come in and take an easier ball at Tina.” – (Waters)
Strong Start Sets the Tone
Waters and Ben Johns remain top contenders in the mixed doubles field. Their teamwork and strategy gave them the edge against a solid team like Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu. The win keeps them on track for a possible title run.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Crush Rivals
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns won 11-2, 11-6 against Tina Pisnik and Andrei Daescu at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. They stayed in control throughout the match and used a smart strategy to keep Daescu off balance. The top seeds continue to move forward in mixed doubles play.