Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright competing at The Pickr Utah Open.
Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright continue to establish themselves as one of the top women's doubles teams in pickleball. PPA Tour

Bright, Rohrabacher outduel Johnson, Humberg for women’s doubles title

Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher captured their fifth title of the year together with an 11-2, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4 victory over No. 9 seeds Jorja Johnson and Mari Humberg.

The top seeds took advantage of a slow start from their opponents to handily take the opening game.

Like they did twice on Saturday, Johnson and Humberg settled into the match more in Game 2 and evened the contest going into Game 3. They found ways to attack from the outer parts of the court, specifically off of Humberg’s one-handed backhand on the left and Johnson’s forehand on the right.

That also helped them gain a 4-0 lead in the third game, which prompted Bright and Rohrabacher to change their strategy.

They seemed to focus more on keeping their dinks closer to the middle of the kitchen, where Johnson and Humberg weren’t as willing to attack from.

That placement allowed the top seeds to get back to being the aggressors—like they were in Game 1—and they went on take Games 3 and 4 to secure the triumph.

 

This is Bright and Rohrabacher’s second tournament back together since nearly a month a half break during the MLP swing in July.

They’ve picked up right where they left off, earning silver last week in Bristol and now a gold in Salt Lake City.

“It’s super special to get another win,” Rohrabacher shared. “I think Anna and I are getting our feet under us and getting used to playing with each other again.”

In the bronze medal match, Etta Wright and Meghan Dizon earned a 5-11, 11-4, 11-5 victory over Jackie Kawamoto and Lucy Kovalova.