Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters Shine Brighter Than Gold: In a thrilling display of skill and perseverance, Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters added yet another gold medal to their already impressive collection, taking the top spot in mixed doubles at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships. The No. 1 seeded pair dominated the match, sweeping past the No. 5 seeds, Christian Alshon and Etta Wright, in three straight games. The final score was a decisive 11-9, 11-5, 11-2, showing their ability to recover from early setbacks and control the game with precision.
A Slow Start, But Quick Recovery
Though their victory was comprehensive, the match didn’t start in their favor. In game one, Johns and Waters found themselves trailing 0-7 against Alshon and Wright, a significant deficit for the reigning champions. Despite the early pressure, the pair remained calm, regrouping to close the gap and take control.
“Christian and Etta definitely started strong. They were hitting some great drops and Christian closed fast and applied pressure. If you return to Christian he’s going to drive big so it was hard to attack early on. I wasn’t reading Etta well and she was putting some heavy counters on me. They do a variety of things to make them really dangerous.” – (ben johns)
Despite the slow start, Waters was confident in her partner’s aggression. “I’m glad Ben was super aggressive. I was just doing my role, hitting some good drops and dinks,” she said, emphasizing her strategic approach to the game.
The Turning Point: Aggression and Focus
In game two, the tides turned as Johns and Waters adopted a more aggressive strategy right from the beginning. Johns, known for his adaptability and precise game sense, began to feel more comfortable, and it was evident in his play.
“I’m usually a feel player where the better I feel the more I’m going to attack. So I feel like she expects me to attack the further we go into a match because I get more comfortable. I was really feeling the patterns better. I was seeing where they were at and that causes a lot more attacks.” – (ben johns)
A Silver and a Resilient Recovery
Earlier in the tournament, Waters had claimed silver in women’s doubles, an achievement that was rare and bittersweet for the No. 1 female player in the world. In a sport that has seen rapid growth and increasingly tough competition, Waters’ ability to bounce back from the defeat and secure another gold in mixed doubles was a testament to her mental fortitude.
“It’s getting tougher because every division is very difficult now. But I was telling myself that I have a chance to win two more medals and that a lot of people would love to be in that position. So, I don’t take it for granted and I really just have to give it my all.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters Shine Brighter Than Gold
Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters clinched another gold medal in mixed doubles at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships, defeating Christian Alshon and Etta Wright 11-9, 11-5, 11-2.
Despite an early deficit in game one, the No. 1 seeds dominated after adjusting their strategy. Waters also claimed silver in women’s doubles, showing her mental strength and focus as she rebounded to secure another title.