Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns celebrating a point in the mixed doubles final at the Veolia Lakeland Open presented by Six Zero.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns celebrating a point in the mixed doubles final at the Veolia Lakeland Open presented by Six Zero. PPA Tour

Waters, Johns outlast Johnsons in five games for ninth straight title

Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns kicked off Carvana Championship Sunday action in the Sunshine State with a 10-12, 11-4, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7 victory over No. 2 seeds Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson to capture the mixed doubles title.

Momentum seemed to be on the side of the Johnsons after they took Game 4 to force a decider, but Waters/Johns used a late run in the second half of Game 5 to claim their ninth consecutive title together.

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Waters spoke afterwards about how slowing things down and staying in the crosscourt dink rally with Jorja was a difference-maker down the stretch.

“I think that in the fourth I wasn’t doing that, and in the 5th, I just had to really grind and dink forever,” she explained. “I honestly hate doing that, so I was cringing with every dink, but if that’s what it takes to win, I’ll do it.”

Even though the 18-year-old has two more matches to play on Sunday as she pursues her 39th career Triple Crown, she says that there’s nothing like winning in five games.

“Obviously, winning in three games is what you’re going for and it feels good, but winning in five is just a different feeling,” she mentioned. “So even though it was really hard today, I’m kind of glad it went five just because of the feeling you get after the match. I live for those moments.”

The mixed doubles bronze medal match will take place later Sunday afternoon and will feature No. 4 seeds Anna Bright/Eric Oncins taking on No. 6 seeds Rachel Rohrabacher/Andrei Daescu.