Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters Advance to Finals: The mother-daughter team of Leigh Waters and Anna Leigh Waters is headed to the finals of the 2024 Daytona Beach Open, presented by the ROAR Organic PPA Tour. As the #2 seeds, they faced off against #4 seeds Allyce Jones and Tina Pisnik in a thrilling semifinal match that showcased their impressive skills and deep bond.
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Strong Start Despite Challenges
This tournament marks a special moment for the Waters duo, who haven’t played together since Leigh’s ACL injury at the end of 2022. It is also the only time this year that Anna Leigh has entered a women’s doubles bracket without being the #1 seed. The two have previously won eight PPA titles together and are eager to add one more to their collection.
In the match against Jones and Pisnik, the Waters found themselves down 0-3 in game one. After a controversial call involving a potential touch on the ball, they took a timeout to review the tape. The referees did not find enough evidence to overturn the call, and the Waters fell behind even further to 0-5. However, they rallied back, dominating with a nine-point streak and closing out the first game 11-6.
Overcoming Momentum Shifts
Anna Leigh reflected on the pivotal moment during the match.
“When we went down, there was that controversy with the ball, and we were just so upset and angry,”. “We really thought that it had hit [Tina Pisnik], so we just went on, and I think we sped up every ball we got in that first game, and it was working and we were being aggressive.”(Anna Leigh Waters)
In the second game, Pisnik and Jones found their rhythm and took control, winning decisively 11-3. But the Waters bounced back in the third game, quickly jumping to a 6-0 lead and ultimately winning 11-3, finishing the match with scores of 11-6, 3-11, 11-3.
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Emotional Journey to the Finals
Throughout the match, the Waters expressed their emotions, knowing a finals appearance was on the line in their home state, with family and friends watching.
“I was like, at what point am I going to get nervous and go into a sinking spell – well, that was game two,”(Leigh Waters),
laughing. Anna Leigh encouraged her mother to focus on enjoying the game again.
This successful run through the draw sets up an exciting final for the Waters family, as they prepare to face off against Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black. With their history and determination, the mother-daughter duo aims for victory at the Daytona Beach Open.
As Championship Sunday approaches, fans eagerly await what promises to be an unforgettable match featuring the emotional and skilled Waters team.
News in Brief: Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters Advance to Finals
The mother-daughter team of Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters has advanced to the finals of the 2024 Daytona Beach Open as the #2 seeds, defeating #4 seeds Allyce Jones and Tina Pisnik in a thrilling semifinal. After overcoming an early 0-5 deficit, they secured the match with scores of 11-6, 3-11, 11-3. This tournament marks a special moment for the duo, who haven’t played together since Leigh’s ACL injury. They aim to add another PPA title to their collection in the finals against Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black.
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