Johns Brothers Advance to PPA Bristol Final: Ben and Collin Johns punched their ticket to their first men’s doubles final since April with a hard-earned 11-9, 11-6 victory over No. 7 seeds James Ignatowich and Andrei Daescu.
Turning the Tide in a Tight Contest
Early on, it seemed as though the first-time pairing of Ignatowich and Daescu might extend the match to a deciding third game. The newcomers displayed tenacity, but the seasoned Johns brothers showed why they’re considered among the best, closing out the match by scoring nine of the final ten points. A key factor was Collin Johns’ offensive play on the right side—a departure from his usual approach.
“It’s something that I’ve generally been working on, especially over the past couple months. I thought I had some good attacks today, but it’s certainly situation-dependent as well.” – (Collin Johns)
A Return to Form After a Challenging Season
The victory marked a significant milestone for the Johns brothers, who last made a Championship Sunday appearance at the LA Open in April. Reflecting on their journey back to the final, Collin acknowledged the tough competition they’ve faced along the way.
“We’ve had to make some adjustments. Obviously, the other teams in the field are playing very well and pushing us. We had a tough quarterfinal and definitely some tense moments here in the semifinals, so you’ve got to buckle down and really focus to get to the finals these days.” – (Collin Johns)
The Johns brothers now await the winners of the second semifinal, where No. 6 seeds Jay Devilliers and Pablo Tellez will take on No. 8 seeds Christian Alshon and Quang Duong.
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News in Brief: Johns Brothers Advance to PPA Bristol Final
Ben and Collin Johns secured a spot in the men’s doubles final with an 11-9 and 11-6 win over No. 7 seeds James Ignatowich and Andrei Daescu in Bristol, TN. Despite a strong challenge from the first-time duo, the Johns brothers surged, scoring nine of the final ten points to clinch the victory.
Collin Johns’ improved offensive play on the right side was a key factor. This win marks the Johns’ first Championship Sunday appearance since their LA Open title in April. They will face the winners of the second semifinal.
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