Monday, December 9, 2019

2019 Delray Beach Gunther Pickleball Classic


Hundreds are set to play in Delray Beach Gunther Pickleball Classic tournament this weekend December 5-8

Professional pickleball players will be playing in this week’s event. Local mother-daughter team Leigh and 12-year-old Anna Leigh Waters said they are excited to play at home again.

“We just won Nationals at the pro level as a mother-daughter team,” said Waters.


Women's Doubles Pro
Leigh Waters/Anna Leigh Waters,12 vs Martina Kochli/Michelle Esquivel


WPTV: Mother-daughter team Leigh and 12-year old Anne Leigh Waters, said they were excited to play at home again:

It's just been unbelievable and the fact that Anna Leighis 12 years old and I'm 40 years old.

She's the youngest professional player and the two of us actually won nationals a few weeks ago at the pro level in Indian Wells California.

So, we're really kind of making waves and showing that anybody of any age can play this sport. (Leigh Waters)

The Delray pickleball Club hosted the event. Over 500 players participated.


Anna Leigh's photo was used in the Delray Beach Gunther Classic Poster



Mixed Doubles Pro: Anna Leigh Waters,12/William Sobek,15 vs Leigh Waters/Kyle Yates
  •  Gold: Leigh Waters / Kyle Yates 
  •  Silver: Michelle Esquivel / Rob Cassidy 
  •  Bronze: Anna Leigh Waters / William Sobek
Press Release:

Last week, The Delray Beach Pickleball Club presented National Champions Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters with a banner at the Delray Beach Tennis Center

National Champions Mother/Daughter Duo Will Compete At The 3rd Delray Beach Pickleball Classic

 (DELRAY BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 4, 2019) --- Last month Delray Beach Pickleball Club members, Anna Leigh Waters,12, and her mother, Leigh Waters, won the 2019 Women’s Doubles Professional National Title at the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships in Indian Wells, California.

This week the dynamic mother-daughter will compete at the 3rd annual Delray Beach Gunther Pickleball Classic that will be held at the Delray Beach Tennis Center that begins tomorrow and ends Sunday.

The National Champions will play on Saturday December 7th in the Women’s Doubles Pro bracket.

In the summer of 2017, Anna Leigh and Leigh evacuated to Leigh’s father's home in Pennsylvania due to Hurricane Irma. While there, he introduced them to pickleball.

“Anna Leigh started playing pickleball the same day I did in Pennsylvania,” Leigh explains. “I can’t tell you what an absolute privilege it is to get to play with her. She amazes me every time I step on the court with her. She is smart, encouraging, and her skills just keep getting better. Having her by my side on the court is so comforting and I have total confidence in her. We have that mother/daughter intuition that helps us play as a true team on the court. Winning a Major title together is something that we set out to do.”

In November 2017, Anna Leigh, 10, and Leigh played in their first tournament at the Delray Beach Pickleball Open.

According to Pickleball Global, the Waters are currently ranked the top Professional Pickleball Doubles players in the world.

In the November/December Pickleball Magazine article, Raising Waters, Leigh stated: "Every day feels like a gift for us. We are so grateful to our family, friends, and supporters for making this possible." 

Team Waters 2019 Interview Highlight Reel 

Digital Press Kit (Interviews, Tournament Videos, Photos, Schedule)


In The News

2017 Delray Beach Classic 


Anna Leigh,10, and Stacie Townsend warm up. 

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