PHOENIX, AZ - Mixed doubles day for Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns almost ended much earlier than they’re used to.

The No. 1 seeds watched as a 10-6 lead in Game 3 of their Round of 16 match disappeared and went on to face a few match points from Etta Wright and Pablo Tellez.

A missed serve by Tellez saved the tandem, and they were able to escape, 14-12.

They were pushed to three games in their quarterfinal match, too, facing firm resistance from the athletic first-time pairing of Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon.

Waters and Johns made it through that one unscathed, clinching the deciding game 11-6.

The windy conditions and cold weather, especially compared to the last PPA tournament in Palm Springs, CA, made things difficult for the highly decorated pair.

“I think a lot of players are driving-and-crashing, and anything can happen when you’re doing that,” Waters told PickleballTV’s Dave Fleming. “I think Ben and I are at our best when we can slow it down, and it’s really hard to do that in this wind.”

Despite these challenges, they made the semifinals where they faced another first-time pairing: Hurricane Tyra Black and Augie Ge.

The No. 21 seeds took the mixed doubles draw by storm on Friday, earning wins over top teams Jackie Kawamoto and Riley Newman, and Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright.

Waters and Johns were challenged by the lefty-righty combination of their opponents, but they were able to find their patterns often enough to get the victory in two games, 11-7, 11-9, in one of their most tame matches of the day.

They will face Anna Bright and James Ignatowich on the Championship Sunday for the second time in as many tournaments.

The No. 1 seeds won their previous encounter 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.