#1 Pickleball Player Ben Johns Goes Down | PPA Cincinnati Recap & Highlights
The PPA put on a show for the pickleball world this past weekend in Cincinnati. They converted the Lindner Tennis Facility into 40+ pickleball courts including an impressive championship court. Championship court included stadium seating, VIP sections, a DJ, big screens and a full video production team. These features created a great environment for the in person fans as well as those watching live on the Tennis Channel.
Thursday kicked off Pro Singles for the men and women. There were two notable names from the mens side: Ben Johns and Hunter Johnson.
Usually we are writing about how Ben didn’t lose a game all day… but not this time. Ben lost in the quarterfinals... which might be the first time ever. Tyler Loong came to play beating Ben in two straight 11-7, 13-11. Johns dropped to the consolation bracket and got knocked out by Jay Devilliers. I don’t remember the last time Ben Johns didn’t medal in singles, let alone not finish in the top 5. It wasn’t his day but he put on a show the rest of the week.
Hunter Johnson, the 11 seed, found himself on Championship Sunday after big wins over Travis Rettenmaier, James Ignatowich, Jay Devilliers, and Tyler Loong.
Mens Pro Singles
Gold: Tyson McGuffin
Silver: Hunter Johnson
Bronze: Yates Johnson
Anna Leigh Waters dominated all day in the Womens Pro Singles bracket. She won 7/7 games and outscored her opponents 77-30 to win the gold.
Womens Pro Singles
Gold: Anna Leigh Waters
Silver: Lea Jansen
Bronze: Salome Devidze
Friday was Pro Mixed Doubles and it was the Anna Leigh and Ben Johns show. Anna Leigh teamed up with Ben Johns to continue her dominance. They won 9/9 games and outscored their opponents 99-38.
Jessie Irvine and Jay Devilliers took down the #1 seed Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright.
Mixed Pro Doubles
Gold: Anna Leigh Waters - Ben Johns
Silver: Jessie Irvine - Jay Devilliers
Bronze: Yana Grechkina - Thomas Wilson
Pro mens and womens doubles on Saturday was MORE Ben Johns. He teamed up with his brother Collin to win his second gold medal of the weekend. They only lost 2 games all weekend and outscored their opponents 117-48.
Mens Pro Doubles
Gold: Ben Johns - Collin Johns
Silver: Jay Devilliers - Tyson McGuffin
Bronze: Callan Dawson - Tyler Loong
On the womens side, the top 2 seeds didn’t make it to Championship Sunday for the first time in a while. The #1 seed, Lucy Kovalova and Callie Smith lost to Catherine Parenteau - Lea Jansen 11-9, 11-7. The #2 seed, Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters lost to Anna Bright - Jessie Irvine in a three game thriller 11-5, 3-11, 11-8.
Anna Bright - Jessie Irvine put on a show in the finals winning in 3 straight 11-8, 11-1, 11-6 over Catherine Parenteau - Lea Jansen.
Womens Pro Doubles
Gold: Anna Bright - Jessie Irvine
Silver: Catherine Parenteau - Lea Jansen
Bronze: Jackie Kawamoto - Jade Kawamoto
