Kawamoto Sisters PPA Tour Comeback Victory: Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto captured their first PPA Tour title on Sunday after defeating Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black in a five-game thriller at the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase. The twin sisters came back from two games down to win 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.
Two Days of Comebacks
The victory came just a day after Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto staged another remarkable comeback. In Saturday’s semifinal, they rallied from a 4-9 deficit in the final game to upset top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright.
On Sunday, the sisters once again showed resilience. After dropping the first two games to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, they adjusted their strategy and stormed back to take the match in five.
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Strategy Shift Turns the Match
Jackie Kawamoto explained how a more aggressive style helped them recover.
“Down 0-2, we just knew we had to do a better job of getting into net. We were struggling on our thirds, and we were like ‘Screw it, let’s just crash on the fifths and see what happens.’ That gave us the edge a little bit and put us on the offensive,”
she told Pickleballtv’s Kamryn Blackwood and Matt Manasse.
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A Special Win Close to Home
The Kawamoto sisters, who both played college tennis at the University of Dayton, found the win especially meaningful since it came less than an hour from their former campus.
“We’re just so happy that we could do this in front of this crowd. Our parents and a lot of our friends from Indiana and Ohio are here, and it just means so much.”( Jackie Kawamoto)
Johnson and Black Fall Short
For Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, the loss was a tough end after a strong week. The duo was aiming for their second straight PPA Tour title. One challenge was that Tyra Black could not use her regular paddle due to new UPA-A regulations that started in September.
Still, Jorja Johnson felt the team performed well.
“I think all things considered, we did great this weekend. If you know you know, but we’re really proud of this result and just happy to be here on Sunday,” she said.
Importance of the Victory
The championship marked a breakthrough moment for Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto, who had been chasing a PPA Tour title. Their back-to-back comebacks showed determination and composure under pressure. For Johnson and Black, the runner-up finish reinforced their ability to compete with the top teams despite equipment challenges.
News in Brief: Kawamoto Sisters PPA Tour Comeback Victory
Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto won their first PPA Tour title at the Veolia Cincinnati Showcase. They defeated Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black in five games, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, after also upsetting Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright in the semifinals.