Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns kicked off Championship Sunday with a clinical 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 victory over No. 4 seeds Tyra Black/Christian Alshon in the mixed doubles final.

The two teams squared off in the semifinals of last month’s PPA Masters, with Waters/Johns saving four match points and overcoming a 4-10 deficit in the third game to steal the win.

Sunday’s contest was much more one-sided.

One of the keys for the top seeds was their use of around-the-post shots, or ATPs. Both Waters and Johns hit several ATPs throughout the match, as they frequently gained the upper hand in crosscourt dink rallies and forced shots from their opponents that went outside the width of the net.

“I honestly don’t think I could hit great ATPs like a month ago, and my mom and I decided to work on it. They’ve gotten a lot better, but they’re not perfect,” Waters said. “Ben makes it easy because I know he’s got the middle if I do end up running outside to hit the ATP.”

This result gives Johns his 60^th career PPA mixed doubles title. The 25-year-old spoke about the role that his support system has played in his sustained success.

“It’s just really nice to have a support system with a schedule like we have, with 20 something tournaments per year. It gets exhausting, so it really helps to have amazing people with you,” he mentioned.

Both Waters and Johns will be back in action later on Sunday. Waters will join forces with Catherine Parenteau in the women’s doubles final against Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher, while Johns and Hayden Patriquin will play in the men’s doubles bronze medal match against Rafa Hewett/Noe Khlif.

In the mixed doubles bronze match, No. 16 seeds Kate Fahey/Dylan Frazier will take on No. 5 seeds Maggie Brascia/JW Johnson.