![Anna Bright and Andrei Daescu celebrate a pickleball win.](https://cdn.pickleball.com/news/1710785499260/EDITAO_AndreixAnna_WD_SUNDAY-13.webp?width=1320&height=528&optimizer=image)
Bright, Daescu stun Waters, Johns for mixed doubles crown
LAKEWAY, TX - Anna Bright and Andrei Daescu did something Monday morning that no team had ever done before: beat Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns in a gold medal match.
And they did it without dropping a game.
The No. 4 seeds took down the top seeds 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 to claim the title. The 6’4’’ Daescu’s reach at the kitchen line caused trouble for Waters and Johns, as he was able to attack from typically vulnerable spots on the court.
Even after taking the first two games, Bright knew that she and Daescu couldn’t afford to take their foot off the gas as a team against such accomplished and experienced opponents.
“Beating great teams is always harder in a best of five format than a two out of three. Even when you’re up two games, you know it’s still gonna be really tough.”
And they didn’t let up at all to race to mixed doubles gold.
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