Stats Wrap: Championship Sunday at the PPA Mesa Arizona Cup

MIXED DOUBLES FINAL: 

(1) Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns def. (3) Vivienne David and Thomas Wilson, 11-4, 11-1, 11-9.

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MATCH NOTES:

•  #1 ANNA LEIGH WATERS and BEN JOHNS avenged one of their two losses of last year by beating the Johnsons, 11-1, 11-3. That loss was at this tournament in the quarterfinals. Their other loss was in pool play in December. This team has now won 16 straight tournaments playing together. This was part of her 23^rd career Triple Crown.
• #3 VIVIENNE DAVID and THOMAS WILSON survived a wild quarterfinal, beating Jackie Kawamoto and Riley Newman 15-13 in the third game. This team has been consistently competitive, winning bronze medals in four of the last five tournaments, and the silver here.

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RALLIES:
978 shots.
114 rallies.
8.6 shots per rally.
38 rallies per game.
79/114 rallies were 9 shots or less. (69%)
35/114 rallies were 10 shots or more. (31%)

Shortest: 1 shot (5), 2 shots (6), 3 shots (7), 4 shots (10).

(24% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 43, 27, 22.
(1 rally were 30 shots or more. 8 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Waters: 16 drops, 2 drives. (88% drops)
Johns: 32 drops, 9 drives. (78% drops)
Waters/Johns: 48 drops, 11 drives. (81% drops)
David: 9 drops, 13 drives. (40% drops)
Wilson: 6 drops, 16 drives (27% drops)
David/Wilson: 15 drops, 29 drives. (34% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 63 drops, 40 drives (61% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Waters: (2) 1 serve net, 1 third shot drive-net.

Johns: (8.) 2 serves net, 1 return net, 1 return wide, 1 third shot drive net, 1 third shot drive wide, 2 third shot drops net.

David: (7) 1 serve long, 3 returns long, 1 return wide, 1 third shot drop wide, 1 third shot drive-net.

Wilson: (1) 1 serve long.

***Third Shots Kept in Play***

Waters: 17/18 = 94%

Johns: 37/41 = 90%

David: 20/22 = 90%

Wilson: 22/22 = 100%
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SPEED-UPS:
I counted the instances when a regular dinking rally or dinking opportunity was accelerated, and that shot or the ensuing hand-battle led directly to the end of the rally. (therefore, not including speedups that were eventually re-set during the same rally, or when a team became clearly defensive.) Here are those “starts”, and the ensuing result for that -team-.

Waters: initiated and won 2, initiated and lost 5.
Johns: initiated and won 11, initiated and lost 2.
Waters/Johns: initiated and won 13, initiated and lost 7. (65% success rate)
David: initiated and won 5, initiated and lost 5.
Wilson: initiated and won 5, initiated and lost 5.
David/Wilson: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 10. (50% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 23 and lost 17, for a 57% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Waters: 3

Johns: 0

David: 4

Wilson: 4
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 18.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 25% of the rallies.

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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Waters: 4

Johns: 6

David: 2

Wilson: 6

(15% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Waters: 1 ATP, 1 Erne.

Johns: 2 ATPs, 4 Ernes, 1 Erne defended.

David: none.

Wilson: 2 ATPs defended, 4 Ernes.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 2.

Wilson:  2 in, lost rallies.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Waters: 3

Johns: 2

David: 7

Wilson: 6
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GAME POINTS:
Waters/Johns: Won 3 out of 4.
David/Wilson: none.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Waters/Johns: Won 2, Lost 0.
David/Wilson: Won 0, Lost 3.
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DVR ALERT:

• Game One, 8-4-1: Johns poaches so far that it turns into an ATP.
• Game Two, 2-1-1: Waters sharply angled shake-n-bake.
• Game Three, 3-0-1: Match-high 43-shot rally.
• Game Three, 3-6-2: Waters saves a let cord and turns it into a winner.
• Game Three, 4-7-1: Wilson poaching winner.

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MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL: 

(2) Dylan Frazier and JW Johnson def. (16) Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9.

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MATCH NOTES:

•  #16 GABE TARDIO and ANDREI DAESCU, dubbed “The Giant Killers” by Dave Fleming, both made their Championship Sunday debuts. They used an “aggressive but smart” style to beat the Johns brothers in the Round of 16, and the #4 seeds, Riley Newman and Thomas Wilson, in the semis.
• #2 DYLAN FRAZIER and JW JOHNSON. This team is back on the podium after winning five gold, five silver, and five bronze medals last year.

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RALLIES:
1,666 shots.
125 rallies.
13.3 shots per rally.
41.6 rallies per game.
63/125 rallies were 9 shots or less. (50%)
62/125 rallies were 10 shots or more. (50%)

Shortest: 1 shot (0), 2 shots (7), 3 shots (2), 4 shots (3).

(9% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 64, 61, 49, 44.
(8 rallies were 30 shots or more. 26 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Frazier: 13 drops, 4 drives. (76% drops)
Johnson: 37 drops, 12 drives. (75% drops)
Frazier/Johnson: 50 drops, 16 drives. (75% drops)
Daescu: 13 drops, 20 drives. (39% drops)
Tardio: 8 drops, 11 drives (42% drops)
Daescu/Tardio: 21 drops, 31 drives. (40% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 71 drops, 47 drives (60% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Frazier: (2) 2 returns long.

Johnson: (4) 2 returns net, 2 third shot drops net.

Daescu: (2) 2 returns long.

Tardio: (1) 1 return long

***Third Shots Kept in Play***

Frazier: 17/17 = 100%

Johnson: 47/49 = 95%

Daescu: 33/33 = 100%

Tardio: 19/19 = 100%
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SPEED-UPS:
I counted the instances when a regular dinking rally or dinking opportunity was accelerated, and that shot or the ensuing hand-battle led directly to the end of the rally. (therefore, not including speedups that were eventually re-set during the same rally, or when a team became clearly defensive.) Here are those “starts”, and the ensuing result for that -team-.

Frazier: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 4.
Johnson: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 6.
Frazier/Johnson: initiated and won 20, initiated and lost 10. (66% success rate)
Daescu: initiated and won 8, initiated and lost 15.
Tardio: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 9.
Daescu/Tardio: initiated and won 18, initiated and lost 24. (42% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 38 and lost 34, for a 52% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).

Frazier: 2

Johnson: 3

Daescu: 6

Tardio: 1
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 9.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 16% of the rallies.

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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Frazier: 7

Johnson: 7

Daescu: 6

Tardio: 5

(20% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Frazier: none.

Johnson: 2 ATPs, 2 Ernes.

Daescu: 1 Erne defended.

Tardio: 2 ATPs defended, 1 Erne defended.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 1.

Tardio: 1 in and won rally.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Frazier: 7

Johnson: 7

Daescu: 12

Tardio: 6
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GAME POINTS:
Frazier/Johnson: Won 3 out of 5.
Daescu/Tardio: none.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Frazier/Johnson: none.
Daescu/Tardio: Won 3, Lost 0.
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DVR ALERT:

• Last rally of match: match-high 64 shots.
• Game One, 3-3-1: 61-shot rally.
• Game Two, 3-4-2: 31 shots, Daescu Erne defense is a winner.
• Game Two, 6-5-2: Johnson wild firefight.

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WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL: 

(1) Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters def. (4) Meghan Dizon and Etta Wright, 11-3, 12-10, 12-10.

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MATCH NOTES:

•  #1 CATHERINE PARENTEAU and ANNA LEIGH WATERS have now won 14 straight PPA titles while playing together. This women’s doubles win was Waters’ 30th, which puts her in the 30/30/30 Club. (singles, doubles, mixed). This was part of her 23^rd career Triple Crown.

• #4 MEGHAN DIZON and ETTA WRIGHT saved seven match points in the quarterfinals against the Brascia sisters. Dizon and Wright earned a silver medal at Desert Ridge against Parenteau and Waters, and they also lost to them at the Texas Open final last summer. Their 2023 gold medal was at Red Rock against Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones.

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RALLIES:
1,551 shots.
144 rallies.
10.8 shots per rally.
48 rallies per game.
85/144 rallies were 9 shots or less. (59%)
59/144 rallies were 10 shots or more. (41%)

Shortest: 1 shot (2), 2 shots (3), 3 shots (9), 4 shots (16).

(21% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 45, 30, 30, 29.
(3 rallies were 30 shots or more. 19 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Parenteau: 34 drops, 7 drives. (82% drops)
Waters: 19 drops, 16 drives. (54% drops)
Parenteau/Waters: 53 drops, 23 drives. (69% drops)
Dizon: 15 drops, 19 drives. (44% drops)
Wright: 14 drops, 15 drives (48% drops)
Dizon/Wright: 29 drops, 34 drives. (46% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 82 drops, 57 drives (58% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Parenteau: (3) 2 third shot drops-net, 1 third shot drive-net.

Waters: (3) 1 return mishit, 2 third shot drops-net.

Dizon: (3) 1 serve long, 1 return long, 1 third shot drop-net

Wright: (4) 1 serve long, 1 return long, 1 third shot drop-net, 1 third shot drive-net.

***Third Shots Kept in Play***

Parenteau: 38/41 = 92%

Waters: 33/35 = 94%

Dizon: 33/34 = 97%

Wright: 27/29 = 93%
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SPEED-UPS:

Unavailable. Broadcast replay is incomplete.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Parenteau: 2

Waters: 3

Dizon: 5

Wright: 5
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 13.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 19% of the rallies.

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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Parenteau: 4

Waters: 10

Dizon: 6

Wright: 6

(18% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Parenteau: 1 Erne, 1 Erne defended.

Waters: 1 ATP defended, 3 Ernes.

Dizon: 2 Ernes defended.

Wright: 1 ATP, 1 Erne, 2 Ernes defended.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 3.

Parenteau: 1 in and won rally.

Waters: 0

Dizon: 1 in and won rally.

Wright: 1 in and lost rally.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Parenteau: 9

Waters: 4

Dizon: 7

Wright: 8
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GAME POINTS:
Parenteau/Waters: Won 3, Lost 1.
Dizon/Wright: Won 0, Lost 2 (Game Two).
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Parenteau/Waters: Won 3, Lost 1.
Dizon/Wright: Won 0, Lost 2. (Game Two)
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DVR ALERT:

• Game Three, 1-4-2: Match-high 45-shot rally.
• Game Three, 5-8-1: Parenteau defense.

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WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL: 

(1) Anna Leigh Waters def. (4) Mary Brascia, 11-0, 11-8.

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MATCH NOTES:

• .#1 ANNA LEIGH WATERS allowed only 14 points in six games to reach the final. Waters won 14 titles last year, including this one. This was part of her 23^rd career Triple Crown.
• #4 MARY BRASCIA won six straight games to reach the final. Brascia lost to in the finals to Waters earlier this month at Desert Ridge, and also last May in Atlanta.

CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Waters: 19, including 5 on the third shot.

Brascia: 5, including 0 on the third shot.

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ERRORS on SERVES and RETURNS:

Waters: (1). 0 on serves, 1 on returns.

Brascia: (2). 1 on serves, 1 on returns.

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BASELINE DRIVE ERRORS:

Waters: 4, including 1 on the third shot.

Brascia: 6, including 1 on the third shot.

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WINNERS/ERRORS PLUS/MINUS (from above):

Waters: +14.

Brascia: -3.

LONGEST RALLY: 23 shots.

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GAME POINTS:

Waters: Won 2 out of 4.

Brascia: none.

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TIME OUTS: Did the player that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)

Waters: Won 0, Lost 1.

Brascia: Won 1, Lost 2.  

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DVR ALERT:

•  Game Two, 3-7, wild 23-shot rally!

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MEN’S SINGLES FINAL: 

(1) Ben Johns def. (2) Federico Staksrud, 11-8, 11-4.

#1 BEN JOHNS won his first 2024 final after winning eleven titles last year. He now has 34 career singles titles.

#2 FEDERICO STAKSRUD has started this season by winning three straight medals.

(stats unavailable. Broadcast was incomplete)