No Mixed Final, Men’s Doubles Excites in Vegas

Nineteen triple crowns for Ben Johns. Another nineteen for Anna Leigh Waters.

And a ninth triple crown for each together. 

The duo paired up and were all aces in Las Vegas, both taking singles and doubles events on Championship Sunday and winning the mixed doubles match after James Ignatowich had to withdraw because of a sprained left ankle he suffered Saturday in the men’s quarterfinal.

Lots of Ben. Lots of ALW on Sunday. And here are your takeaways from the finals in Vegas:

Men’s Singles

Johns gave some credit to his bench support team, which included brother Collin, as Ben defeated Aanik Lohani, 11-3, 11-7 in men’s singles.

“Collin helped me with some pattern stuff,” Ben said of playing the No. 23-seeded Lohani. “I needed to do a little research before I played him.”

Ben beat Lohani back in Denver earlier this summer, but Lohani certainly had to be considered a somewhat unknown heading into the tournament where he had a number of impressive wins. But like he’s done so many times before, Ben Johns was able to distance himself from the rest of the men’s field on the way to another title.

Women’s Singles

How much confidence did Waters have Sunday heading into the last match of the day – women’s singles – against Parenteau?

After Waters won the first game 11-4, she fell behind 9-0 in the second game and was visibly animated during timeouts on the sideline with her mother Leigh.

“It was a crazy match,” Waters said after the 11-4, 7-11, 11-4 victory. “I couldn’t stop shaking. I needed her [Leigh] to calm me down.”

The two appeared to be engaged in some heated exchanges, with Anna Leigh admitting that her mother said, “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” However, Anna Leigh impressed once again, finding her way to the winner’s circle by closing out the third game against Parenteau.

It was Waters’ third win in a row in singles, all coming against Parenteau and her 12th singles win of the season. Parenteau is 0-5 against Waters in the finals this year. Parenteau also has four golds in 2023. 

There’s no doubt these are the top two women’s singles players in the game. Lea Jansen is third, but Jansen has said she is not going to be playing any more singles.

“Catherine never gives up,” Waters said. “She showed that here today.”

Men’s Doubles

There’s absolutely no doubt about the fact the Johns brothers are the top team in men’s doubles and there’s also no doubt Dylan Frazier and J.W. Johnson are right behind the brothers.

Since the break-up of Riley Newman and Matt Wright earlier this summer, Frazier and Johnson have solidified their spot in the rankings behind the Johns, and Sunday’s final was a good example. The Johns won a match that took nearly two hours, rallying from two games down and finally outlasting Frazier and Johnson, 7-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6. 

A comeback that resulted in the Johns winning their second tournament in a row and their 11th of the season. 

Is this the best rivalry in pickleball? Meanwhile, Frazier and Johnson have won four golds this year as well. They are 1-2 against the Johns brothers in gold medal matches. Frazier and Johnson have also earned four silvers and five bronze medals this year.

“That’s a great team,” Ben Johns said. “There’s no team I like playing more. The points are long and sometimes frustrating.”

In men’s doubles, no one is likely more frustrated than Newman. He’s in the top five of the season points standings, but he hasn’t won a gold medal since May and has just one medal in the past seven tournaments.

“This has been a great year for us,” Collin Johns said. “We’ve been fortunate, but it gives you that much more confidence when you’re down two games to a team that’s playing well – you know you can come back and do it.”

Women’s Doubles

In women’s doubles, Waters and partner Catherine Parenteau needed four games to earn a championship, beating Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.

Yes, that’s another dominating win for the pair – their eighth of the year and third in a row – but Kovalova and Smith are playing in top form.

Remember, a year ago, Kovalova and Smith won five times together. They’ve won once this season, back in April, and had won a bronze and silver this season as well, prior to Sunday. It’s not far-fetched to suggest Kovalova and Smith aren’t far behind Waters and Parenteau.

After winning the first game, Waters and Parenteau fell behind 6-3 in the second game before winning eight points in a row. In game three, Smith and Kovalova were within reach, down just 7-8 with the serve.

The distance between these teams isn’t significant. We’ll keep our eye on developments as the year’s end draws to a close.