Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Continue Winning: In an impressive showing, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns secured their place in the mixed doubles final by defeating No. 11 seeds Jackie Kawamoto and Riley Newman with an emphatic scoreline of 11-6, 11-0. The top seeds demonstrated their skills on the pickleball court, showcasing the skill and teamwork that have earned them twelve titles together this year.
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Kawamoto and Newman’s Tough Quarterfinal
Kawamoto and Newman entered the semifinals riding high after an exhilarating quarterfinal victory over Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon, where they remarkably saved ten match points. However, they faced a formidable challenge against Waters and Johns, who were relentless in their pursuit of victory, leaving no doubt as to why they’re among the best in the game.
Familiar Foes
Waters and Johns have had the upper hand against the Johnson siblings throughout 2024, winning all eight encounters. Yet, many of those matches were hard-fought, often requiring the duo to stage comebacks from near defeat. With the championship match approaching, Johns aims to avoid a repeat of those close calls.
“I think it’s mostly about avoiding the mistakes of previous matches. I think we know what has caused them to get very close to beating us a number of times, and we’ve gotta be conscious of that.” – (ben)
Strategic Approach for the Final
Johns recognizes the need to balance playing their game while being mindful of the Johnsons’ potential to shake things up.
“At the same time, you want to play your game because as not-the-favorites in their case, [JW and Jorja] are gonna have to come out with a little something different, so you want to play your game and apply pressure and see what they do before you adapt too much.” – (ben)
Matchup to Watch
With the final set for Sunday, anticipation is building for this next chapter in their rivalry. Will the top seeds maintain their dominance, or will the Johnson siblings find a way to flip the script?
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Continue Winning
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns advanced to the mixed doubles final at the PPA Virginia Beach Cup, defeating No. 11 seeds Jackie Kawamoto and Riley Newman 11-6, 11-0. The top seeds showcased their dominance after Kawamoto and Newman’s dramatic quarterfinal win, where they saved ten match points.
Waters and Johns have won all eight matches against the Johnson siblings this year but have faced close calls in several contests. Johns emphasized the importance of avoiding past mistakes as they prepare for their showdown on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Anna Leigh Waters vs Kate Fahey at PPA Virginia Beach: Battle for the Final
