PPA 2025 North Carolina Open: Waters & Parenteau Set Finals Clash with Black & Johnson in Women’s Doubles
The Women’s Doubles final is officially set, promising an electrifying showdown between top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau and the rising duo of Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson. After powering through a competitive semifinal round, both teams now stand one match away from claiming the crown.
Waters and Parenteau secured their place in the final with a straight-game victory over No. 4 seeds Lacy Schneemann and Parris Todd, defeating the first-time partners 11-5, 11-7. The top-seeded pair built a commanding 8-2 lead in the second game but had to dig deep as Schneemann and Todd closed the gap to 6-8. Sensing the momentum shift, Waters responded with a burst of intensity, anchoring the team’s late-game surge to avoid a decider.
“Usually when it’s tight, I tend to play better and move my feet more,” Waters shared after the match. “I definitely need to start doing that earlier on in the games. Especially in that first game, I felt like maybe I wasn’t playing my best, even though Catherine played really well.”
The 18-year-old phenom's self-awareness and ability to elevate under pressure once again proved key, as she and Parenteau booked their ticket to Championship Sunday.
Awaiting them are the No. 3 seeds, Tyra Black and Jorja Johnson, who battled past the No. 6-seeded Kawamoto twins, Jackie and Jade, in a gripping three-game semifinal: 4-11, 11-1, 11-7. After a rough start in the opening frame, Black and Johnson flipped the script by changing positions—moving Johnson to the left and Black to the right—which resulted in an emphatic Game 2 win.
They carried that momentum into the third game, where their rhythm and confidence took over. Black, in particular, showcased extraordinary defensive skills to keep rallies alive and frustrate the Kawamotos.
“That defense was just my tennis game, honestly,” Black said. “I was super scrappy and did whatever I had to in order to get the ball back and make my opponents hit one more shot, and that kind of transferred over to my pickleball game.”
The result marks the pair’s second PPA final together and a strong bounce-back after an earlier-than-expected exit last week in Red Rock.
“I just really enjoy being out here battling with Tyra,” Johnson added. “It’s really fun both in MLP and PPA. I had a bit of a rough weekend last time out in Utah, so I’m happy to bounce back. That’s team chemistry right there.”
With top-tier talent on both sides of the net, this final is shaping up to be a must-watch showdown between one of the sport’s most seasoned partnerships and an exciting, fast-rising pairing.