PHOENIX, AZ - An extended break in play can bring a lot of changes to a match.

Changes in strategy, changes in the effectiveness of certain shots and patterns—changes in anything, really.

One thing that an extended break didn’t change in the women’s singles semifinal match featuring Mary Brascia and Lea Jansen, however, was how close the match was.

The match began Thursday night in windy conditions, with Brascia taking the first game 11-9 behind some strong drives off the backhand wing.

Rain and wind forced the players to retire for the rest of the night, and play continued Friday morning in dryer conditions with less wind.

Even with the different environment going into the second game, the match continued to be a tight, back-and-forth affair.

Jansen built a 10-5 lead in Game 2, relying on sharp crosscourt angles from her forehand to gain the advantage on her service points.

Brascia would come back and even have a few match points in that game, but Jansen would not be denied and won Game 2, 15-13.

Jansen jumped out to a lead again in the deciding game and led 6-3 when the players switched sides.

Much like her opponent had done in the second game, Brascia held her nerve and closed the gap as time went on and eventually pulled out the third game, 11-9.

The key for Brascia was taking things one point at a time.

“Singles is a game of runs,” she told PickleballTV’s Michelle McMahon. “Someone can win seven points in a row, so you just have to fight for every single point.”

This win sends Brascia to Championship Sunday, where she will face No. 1 seed Anna Leigh Waters for the title.

The last time they met was in pool play at the PPA Finals in November, where Waters took it 10-12, 11-2, 11-4.