Top seeds Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters advanced to the mixed doubles final at the Veolia Bristol Open after defeating No. 3 seeds Christian Alshon and Catherine Parenteau 11-3, 11-2 on Saturday. They will face No. 2 seeds JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson in Sunday’s championship match.
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Dominant Semifinal Performance
Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters controlled the pace from the start, sticking to their planned strategy.
“I don’t think the score really showed how hard Ben and I were trying to stick to a certain game plan and trying to really execute our shots,”.
“Ben was being super aggressive, and in pickleball, I think the aggressive team usually ends up winning.”(Anna Leigh Waters)
One notable moment came at 11-3, 9-2 with Johns and Waters leading. Catherine Parenteau hit a crosscourt shot that passed Johns and reached Waters, who sent it down the line for a winner. Christian Alshon challenged the point, claiming a possible double hit. The review found no evidence, and the challenge was unsuccessful, though it briefly slowed the match’s pace.
Championship Sunday Awaits
The win sets up a top-seed clash between Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters and the No. 2-seeded sibling duo JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson. Both teams have strong records in 2025, making the final a highly anticipated matchup for fans. The stands were full for the semifinals, showing the growing excitement for mixed doubles at the top level.
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters
Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters beat Christian Alshon and Catherine Parenteau 11-3, 11-2 to reach the mixed doubles final at the Veolia Bristol Open. They will face JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson on Championship Sunday in a battle between the tournament’s top two seeds.