Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Crush Chaos: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns secured their spot in the Championship Sunday with a convincing 11-6, 11-1 win over the No. 4 seeds, Anna Bright and Quang Duong at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships. Despite being initially rattled by the chaotic drive-and-crash playstyle of the first-time pairing of Anna Bright and Quang Duong, the top seeds managed to settle into the match after a slow start. After falling behind 1-5 in the first game, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns regained their composure, effectively countering the aggressive tactics of their opponents.
Ben Johns’ Tactical Adjustments Prove Key
Ben Johns acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to the high-energy aggression of their opponents early in the match, stating,
“It takes a while for anyone to settle in, so when you see them being super aggressive coming out, your reflexes are not quite what they are a little way through the match.” – (ben johns)
As the match progressed, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns began to dominate the points at the kitchen line, where their control became evident.
“After that, I thought we did a good job countering, and then I think the points at the kitchen line were favoring us as well.” – (ben johns)
Anna Leigh Waters Overcomes Quang Duong’s Strong Serve
A key challenge for Anna Leigh Waters in the match was handling Quang Duong’s powerful serve, considered one of the best on the tour. Anna Leigh Waters explained how she adapted to the challenge.
“I was just trying to stand as far back as possible and make sure that my return was deep enough so that I had enough time to get in and really react to his third shot drive.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
Anna Leigh Waters’ strategy paid off as the pair began to control the match, sealing the victory dominantly.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Crush Chaos
With their commanding win, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns now set their sights on the final, where they will face Etta Wright and Christian Alshon. The top-seeded duo will look to carry their momentum into the championship match, aiming for another title on their impressive run to Championship Sunday.
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