# Bright and Patriquin vs. Johns and Waters: the rivalry that will decide mixed at Worlds

> Bright and Patriquin have beaten the best mixed team of the era twice this year. Johns and Waters just answered with back-to-back golds.

- Publication: Pickleballer (https://pickleballer.world/)
- Section: The Breakdown
- By: Pickleballer Desk
- Published: 2026-11-02T05:00:00-08:00
- URL: https://pickleballer.world/stories/bright-patriquin-mixed-rise/
- Players: [Anna Bright](https://pickleballer.world/players/anna-bright/), [Hayden Patriquin](https://pickleballer.world/players/hayden-patriquin/), [Ben Johns](https://pickleballer.world/players/ben-johns/), [Anna Leigh Waters](https://pickleballer.world/players/anna-leigh-waters/)
- Topics: Mixed doubles, PPA World Championships, PPA Tour

For most of the last two years, mixed doubles at the top of the PPA Tour had one answer: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters. In 2026, Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin turned it into a rivalry.

## The breakthrough

Bright and Patriquin were 0-6 against Johns and Waters before February's Mesa Cup, The Kitchen reported, including a semifinal at last year's Worlds and finals at the January Masters and the Cape Coral Open. In Mesa they finally won, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3, their first gold together. Johns and Waters were 59-3 in finals as a pair going in.

## The fall

At September's National Championships, Johns and Waters lost in the semifinals to JW and Jorja Johnson, their first loss since Mesa. Bright and Patriquin beat the Johnsons 11-9, 11-3, 11-7 for the title and took the No. 2 ranking.

Then the Las Vegas final, Oct. 4: Bright and Patriquin beat the top seeds 11-9, 11-7. "It's really exciting to see a lot of the things that you've been working on translate into a big match," Bright told Pickleball.com. "It feels amazing, especially to do it in Vegas," Patriquin said.

## The answer

Johns and Waters responded the way champions do. They won Chicago on Oct. 11, beating the Johnsons 11-4, 11-4, and then won Hong Kong on Oct. 25, beating Bright and Patriquin 11-4, 11-3 in the final.

## What to watch at Worlds

Johns and Waters remain the top seeds and the standard. Bright and Patriquin are the one team that has beaten them in a final this year, twice. The Johnsons are the third team in the conversation; they beat Johns and Waters in Cary and reached the Chicago final.

Our view: the Hong Kong result resets the edge to Johns and Waters, but a fourth final between these teams this year is the most likely ending on Championship Sunday.

## Sources

- [Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin sweep Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters at 2026 PPA Tour Mesa Cup](https://thekitchenpickle.com/blogs/news/2026-ppa-tour-mesa-cup-recap-anna-bright-hayden-patriquin-ben-johns-anna-leigh-waters) — The Kitchen
- [PPA Tour 2026 Pickleball National Championships recap](https://thekitchenpickle.com/blogs/news/ppa-tour-2026-pickleball-national-championships-recap/) — The Kitchen
- [Bright, Patriquin spoil Waters' bid for 200th career PPA title](https://pickleball.com/news/bright-patriquin-spoil-waters-bid-for-200th-career-ppa-title) — Pickleball.com
- [Hunter Johnson dominates, Alshon and Daescu get revenge and Bright and Patriquin stun top seeds at PPA Las Vegas Open](https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/hunter-johnson-dominates-alshon-and-daescu-get-revenge-and-bright-and-patriquin-stun-top-seeds-at-ppa-las-vegas-open/) — The Dink
- [Championship Sunday Standout Stats from the Veolia Chicago Cup](https://www.ppatour.com/championship-sunday-standout-stats-from-the-veolia-chicago-cup/) — PPA Tour
- [Heroes of Hong Kong: Dikosavljevic, Johnson go back to back in singles as Patriquin, Staksrud capture title](https://pickleball.com/news/heroes-of-hong-kong-dikosavljevic-johnson-go-back-to-back-in-singles-as-patriquin-staksrud-capture-second-title-of-2026) — Pickleball.com
- [Hong Kong Slam recap: Waters wins twice, Staksrud and Patriquin stun Johns and Tardio](https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/hong-kong-slam-recap-waters-wins-twice-staksrud-and-patriquin-stun-johns-and-tardio/) — The Dink

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