The pairings of Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns and Tyra Black/Hayden Patriquin are through to the mixed doubles final in Las Vegas after three-game victories late Friday evening.

Waters and Johns kicked off semifinal action with a 7-11, 11-1, 11-5 victory over No. 3 seeds Anna Bright/Federico Staksrud.

The top seeds struggled early on with Bright’s lob-volleys from the kitchen line but impressively raised their level in the second and third games to complete the comeback.

Johns spoke afterwards about what he and Waters did to the turn the tide.

“There were a ton of lobs hit really well by Anna, so I think Anna Leigh adjusted super well—a lot better than I did—in the following games to scoot back and just be aware of it,” he explained. “And then just being aggressive was key for both of us, just controlling the play a little bit more on the line and attacking when we could because I felt like they were playing a little bit more tentative and relying on the lobs as their offense, so in that kind of strategy I feel like we have to be attacking.”

In the day’s final match at Las Vegas Convention Center, Black/Patriquin downed No. 2 seeds Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon by an 11-6, 4-11, 11-8 score line.

Parenteau/Alshon seemed to have the upper hand when they got up 8-6 in the deciding game, but Black/Patriquin went on to close out the contest with a five-point run on their next side out that include three rallies won off of net cords.

Black described what it took to stay engaged physically after also going three games in the quarterfinals against No. 4 seeds Jorja Johnson/Jonathan Truong.

“I just kept telling myself to stay aggressive, keep moving, and that was pretty much it. We’ve had a very long day and have been here for about twelve hours,” she mentioned. “I think this is the longest tournament day I’ve ever had, so I’m definitely a bit tired. You just have to keep reminding yourself to keep fighting and keep pushing.”

Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Waters/Johns and Black/Patriquin, as the former go for their 52^nd PPA mixed doubles title together.

Bright/Staksrud will take on Parenteau/Alshon for the bronze medal, also on Sunday.