Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters competing at the CIBC PPA Tour Finals presented by ROAR Organic.
For the second time in 2024, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns are leaving Life Time Rancho San Clemente with a mixed doubles title. PPA Tour

Waters, Johns take mixed doubles gold over Parenteau, Alshon

Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns secured the mixed doubles title in San Clemente with an 11-3, 11-3, 8-11, 11-1 victory over Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon in the third match of the day on Humana Championship Court.

Sunday’s bout was a rematch of the final from the Select Medical Orange County Cup back in June, which was also played at Life Time Rancho San Clemente.

Six months later, the result hasn’t changed: a triumph for the top seeds.

Parenteau/Alshon—who have beaten every other opponent they’ve played—started a comeback bid when they took Game 3 after dropping the first two, but Waters/Johns raised their level and comfortably closed out the contest in the fourth.

 

This win gives Waters/Johns their sixteenth title of 2024, with their only loss this year coming against Anna Bright/Andrei Daescu in the final of the Veolia Austin Open back in March.

That’s the kind of success we’ve come to expect from the top seeds.

“I feel like we’ve always meshed well together on the court because our game styles match up pretty well,” Johns said of his partnership with Waters. “We definitely have a lot of fun out there. I laugh with her and at her, occasionally, and vice versa. It’s really enjoyable, and I’m happy to get another gold with her.”

The future is also bright for Parenteau/Alshon, who are planning to play more tournaments together in 2025.

“We knew coming into the match that we would have to play at basically our top level to have a chance to beat them, but I’m looking forward to playing with Christian more and battling against Anna Leigh and Ben next year,” Parenteau mentioned.