As in mixed doubles, the semifinal slots stayed true to their seeds, with all four of the top ranked teams making the cut, and #1 and #2 ultimately moving on to play on Championship Sunday. #2 seeds Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher, in only their second time pairing together, took down the consistent partnership of #4 seeds Tyra Black/Parris Todd in no short order, winning 11-2, 11-9. 

With Jorja, Rohrabacher has had the chance to spend some time playing the left side and spoke about it in their post-match interview.

“When I first started playing pickleball, I started out on the left, and then when I got drafted in the [Orlando] Squeeze back in ‘23, I was on the right side and it kinda stuck…” Rohrabacher laughed. “And now, playing with Jorja, I feel like I’m learning new things. It’s funny looking back to when I first started, because I have so many more shots. I thought I was good back then, but I’m like ‘oh man,’ but yeah, I’m enjoying it a lot.” 

On the other half of the draw, Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright did what they usually do – they won. Their opponents, #3 seeds Catherine Parenteau/Jackie Kawamoto put up a better fight than the scoreline would suggest, 11-2, 11-3, but ultimately fell to the #1 seeds.

Anna Bright has roots in Tennessee, making it a special place to her, something she touched on after the match, saying, “yeah, my dad’s from Knoxville, I have a lot of grandparents in Knoxville…I spent a lot of time here in Tennessee growing up.”

The wins today put both Jorja Johnson and Anna Leigh Waters in two finals, so they will see each other twice tomorrow. Waters/Bright have never lost together as a pairing, so it will be a tall task for Johnson/Rohrabacher to pull off, but as we know, anything is possible in sports.