Johnson and Black Overcome Slow Start to Upset Waters and Parenteau in North Carolina
What's the Score?
Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black, the Dallas Flash teammates in Major League Pickleball, overcame a slow start to defeat top seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in the women's doubles final at the Veolia North Carolina Open. After a dominant first game by Waters/Parenteau, Johnson/Black rallied to win the next three games.
Hit it deeper!
The women's doubles final at the Veolia North Carolina Open saw an upset as Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black defeated the top-seeded pair of Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau. This followed the top seeds also falling in the men's doubles final, indicating a day of surprises in North Carolina.
Johnson and Black, who are teammates on the Dallas Flash in Major League Pickleball (MLP), appeared to be in trouble early in the match. After dropping the first game decisively 1-11, they also fell behind 1-4 in the second game. However, this early deficit proved to be their last significant struggle.
The duo then embarked on an impressive 10-2 run to win the second game 11-6. Carrying this momentum, Johnson and Black comfortably won the subsequent two games 11-4 and 11-7, securing their first PPA title as a partnership.
Johnson and Black particularly excelled in the fast-paced hand battles at the kitchen line, winning a high percentage of these exchanges against Waters and Parenteau. Black credited their aggressive approach from the second game onwards as a key factor in their victory. She also expressed confidence in playing alongside Johnson, highlighting her partner's "amazing hands".
This victory marks Jorja Johnson's first career women's doubles title on the PPA Tour. For Tyra Black, this is her second women's doubles gold medal in three weeks, having previously won in Texas with Parris Todd. Jorja Johnson had the opportunity to win another title later that Sunday, as she and her brother JW Johnson were set to play Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns in the mixed doubles final. In the bronze medal match, No. 6 seeds Jackie Kawamoto and Jade Kawamoto defeated No. 4 seeds Lacy Schneemann and Parris Todd in straight games (11-7, 11-3) to achieve their first podium finish of 2025.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The upset victory of Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black over Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau at the Veolia North Carolina Open signifies a potential shift in the women's doubles landscape. Their ability to recover from a significant early deficit against the top seeds demonstrates their resilience and tactical adjustments during the match. The strong performance of Johnson and Black in kitchen hand battles highlights the importance of these skills at the highest level of the game. This first PPA doubles title for Johnson and second in three weeks for Black establishes them as a formidable new force in the division. The result also adds to the narrative of increasing competition in women's pickleball, as top seeds are facing tougher challenges.