FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Florida’s Professional Pickleball Mixed Doubles Dream Team Wins Gold Medal At AAP $60K Hilton Head Open
Simone Jardim, 41, and Teenager JW Johnson, 18, Win First Mixed Doubles Title
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (October 19, 2021) -- Considered the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Women’s Pickleball Player, Naples, FL, based Simone Jardim, 41, and Delray Beach, FL, professional pickleball teenager JW Johnson, 18, won their first Mixed Doubles Gold Medal at the Association of Professional Pickleball (APP) Hilton Head Open. The Florida duo beat Jessie Irvine and Jay Devilliers in two games for the title: 11-6, 11-4. (Highlights, Interviews)
Hilton head was where it all began for JW one year ago. In one year, he went from playing mixed doubles with his 49-year-old mother to playing with one of the greatest women to ever play the sport. Virtually going from not being able to find a partner to playing with the top in the game.
Jardim is a Brazilian-American professional pickleball player that was ranked the number one woman player in the world from 2016 to 2020. She won the US Open women's singles four consecutive times (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and is a two-time triple crown winner of the US Open Pickleball championships, winning in singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles in 2017 and 2018. As of 2021, Jardim holds the record for most women's Pro Pickleball Association titles with 32. (Source: Wikipedia)
“I believe I was one of the first people to play with JW at Veterans Park a long time ago,” explains Simone Jardim. “I also taught his sister (Jorja) while he helped. Again, this was a long time ago and I believe he was still playing tennis. I do have more experience than JW and because of that I might understand tactics a little better, but he was on point and executing it. His hands are as fast as Usain Bolt’s feet!”
Men’s doubles saw JW paired up with fellow teenager Dylan Frazier, to take his second gold in a stacked men’s Field. It was Dylan Frazier‘s first gold medal. The Teen Team beat AJ Koller and Callan Dawson: 9-11,11-2,11-7
In Pro Women’s Doubles, Simone won a Silver Medal with Canadian Catherine Parenteau.
Julie Johnson, 50, a senior pro pickleball player, was able to take the gold medal in women’s doubles and singles. Both gold medals required “double dipping” and winning games to 15 after winning the two out of three regular games. The singles final was a nail biter against Jen Lassandro: 9-11,11-3,12-10,15-12 (The first three games were to 11, win by 2 points. The fourth game was to 15, win by 2 points.)
JW, Jorja (JW’s 15 year old sister) and Julie (mother), APP/DUPR #1 Senior Women’s Pro Pickleball Player, travel coast-to-coast together playing in pro pickleball tournaments. 2021 Johnson Family Schedule
Follow Simone, JW and Julie’s journeys on Facebook.
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