Waters and Johns Dominate Mixed Doubles Final at Carvana Championship Sunday
Atlanta, GA — Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns kicked off Carvana Championship Sunday in commanding fashion, defeating No. 4 seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon in straight games, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7, to claim the mixed doubles title on Humana Championship Court.
The top-seeded duo came out blazing, scoring nine points on their opening service possession in the first game. That explosive run set the tone for the rest of the match and left no doubt about their championship intentions.
In a strategic attempt to shift momentum, Tuionetoa and Alshon altered their court formation for the third game—placing Tuionetoa on the left and Alshon on the right, a setup that plays to each of their strengths in their respective doubles divisions. However, the adjustment made little difference against the red-hot Waters and Johns, who remained relentless and closed out the match in three games.
This victory marked a strong rebound for the top seeds, who were coming off a finals loss at the Veolia North Carolina Open last month to Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson.
“I feel like we were really just gunning for this one—not to show people anything, but more for ourselves,” said Waters. “To remind ourselves that we can do better than we did at the last tournament.”
They certainly proved that point in Atlanta. The pair didn’t drop a single game across their six matches en route to the championship, showcasing elite chemistry and dominant form throughout the week.
For Johns, the win extends a historic streak—he has now secured at least one gold medal in 39 consecutive tournaments on the PPA Tour, surpassing the previous record of 38 straight set by Waters from 2021 to 2024.
“Outside of the numbers or titles or anything, it just feels great to get on the court and play well,” said Johns. “I can’t say it means anything extraordinary, but I’m just super happy with the way we’ve been playing, and hopefully we can continue that through the day and the next tournaments.”
Both Waters and Johns are still in contention for Triple Crowns this week, each scheduled to compete in two more finals later on Sunday. If their mixed doubles performance is any indication, they are more than ready to rise to the occasion.
