Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns won the mixed doubles title at the PPA Tour Bristol Open on August 10, 2025, in Bristol, Tennessee. The top seeds defeated Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in a tight five-game battle, winning 11-4, 4-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3. This marks their 51st PPA mixed doubles title together.
Strong Start and Quick Adjustments
The match was a rematch of an earlier season clash in North Carolina, where the Johnson siblings had won in five games. This time, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns took control early, winning the first game 11-4. However, Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson responded by taking the second game 11-4.
Waters, fresh off a women’s doubles gold with Anna Bright earlier in the day, explained her changes in approach for the deciding games.
“I felt like Jorja was making some amazing shots. It’s very impressive how she can handle herself against some of the guys, especially Ben, so props to her. She gives us trouble on that,
but I just felt like in the third and fifth games I was trying to tell myself to be patient, do some more dinking, and try to move the ball around,”.
“I like to speed up a lot in mixed, but against JW it’s pretty tough, so I told myself that if I have to sit here and dink 100 times,
then that’s what I’m going to do. Playing this team is very mentally draining, so props to them for always giving us a run for our money.”(Anna Leigh Waters)
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Holding Nerve in the Decider
After winning the third game 11-4, Waters and Johns stumbled in the fourth, losing 11-7. Ben Johns admitted he struggled in that game but credited Waters for helping him reset before the fifth.
“She’s always encouraging, even through some unforced errors by me. It’s always nice to have a partner that’s not only rock solid in terms of a player but also a partner in terms of encouragement and positivity. “[Anna Leigh] is a remarkable partner, and I’m lucky to have her.”(Ben Johns)
The pair closed out the match with a strong 11-3 final game to seal the championship.
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Significance of the Victory
This win strengthens Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns’ position as the most successful mixed doubles team on the PPA Tour. Their ability to adapt and stay composed under pressure could help them maintain their dominance in upcoming tournaments.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns won the mixed doubles final at the PPA Tour Bristol Open, defeating Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson 11-4, 4-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3. The victory marked their 51st PPA mixed doubles title and showcased their resilience in a tense five-game match.
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