Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon advanced to the finals of the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships on Saturday after a dramatic three-game win over Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson. The semifinal match took place at Life Time Peachtree Corners and lasted over 90 minutes. The No. 4 seeds won by a score of 12-10, 7-11, 12-10.
Back-and-Forth Battle from the Start
The match opened with a close first game. Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson reached game point at 10-9, but Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon came back with three straight points to win 12-10.
The second game went to the No. 2 seeds. Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson stayed focused and took the game 11-7, tying the match at one game each.
Final Game Comes Down to the Wire
In the third and deciding game, Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon built a 10-8 lead and reached match point. However, Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson tied it again at 10-10.
The final points were full of pressure, but Tuionetoa and Alshon stayed strong. With aggressive but smart plays, they won the last two points and closed out the match 12-10.
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Tuionetoa Praises Her Partner
After the intense win, Etta Tuionetoa shared how the moment felt and gave credit to her teammate.
“It was kind of like one of those moments where you just black out and hope to connect with the ball, but kudos to Christian—he was really encouraging. The Johnsons are such a tough team. The ball comes back hard, and their hands are so fast, so I’m just glad we pulled through.” – (Tuionetoa)
Looking Ahead to Finals and Beyond
The win puts Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon into the finals of the mixed doubles bracket. It also gives the Texas Ranchers teammates momentum going into next week’s Major League Pickleball event in Austin.
Their semifinal performance showed strong teamwork, calm under pressure, and the ability to finish big matches against top opponents.
News in Brief: Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon
Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon beat Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in three games on Saturday at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. The tight 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 win sends them to the finals and boosts their confidence heading into next week’s MLP Austin event.