Thursday, February 18, 2021

2021 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam Qualifier

 




 Professional Pickleball Association Arizona Grand Slam Qualifier Promo Reel.



Highlight Point: TeamWaters vs Jessie Irvine/Irina Tereschenko (Watch Match, Highlight Reel)




Pro Mixed Doubles: Anna Leigh Waters/Kyle Yates vs Catherine Parenteau /Dekel Bar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Professional Pickleball National Champions Mother/Daughter Duo Ready For The PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam Qualifier


PHOENIX, AZ (February 15, 2021) -- In 2020, after playing in one tournament, the Mesa Grand Slam Qualifier, and a handful of exhibitions due to COVID-19, the 2019 Women’s Doubles Professional National Champions, Leigh Waters and her fourteen-year old daughter Anna Leigh are ready to play in the first Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tournament of 2021, the $55,000 PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam Qualifier that is being held February 16-21 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa.


Last month, the mother/daughter duo, known for their intense ”ripit” style of play, won a Gold Medal in the Pro Women’s Doubles bracket at the AAP Punta Gorda Pickleball Open in Punta Gorda, FL. (Watch 2 minute Highlight Reel)


Decked out in matching custom outfits from their new sports clothing sponsor, Faye+Florie, TeamWaters appeared to have just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. 


The National Champs showed new aspects of their game which they developed during quarantine. "I am so glad we came back.  I have been missing it. The tournaments are so much different from practicing pickleball." explained Anna Leigh after winning the Gold Medal. 


"I never expected to be in the Gold Medal Match," states Leigh. "I had nothing to lose. So, I was going to go for it." 


On January 26, Anna Leigh’s 14th birthday, the Pickleball Fire Podcast published a 30 minute interview with the dynamic duo. Discussion topics included:


  • How Hurricane Irma was a life changing event for the Waters

  • The level at which Leigh and Anna Leigh started playing Pickleball tournaments

  • Why the Waters game improved rapidly in 2018 and when Leigh realized 11-year-old Anna Leigh was ready to be her partner at the professional level

  • Why the Waters did not play tournaments for most of 2020 and how they did in their first tournament in 2021

  • Which part of the game Leigh and Anna Leigh worked on when they were training in 2020

  • Whether Leigh or Anna Leigh’s game is now more aggressive

  • Why the Waters were called tennis players on the Pickleball court when they first started playing

  • How other sports have enhanced Anna Leigh’s Pickleball game

  • Anna Leigh’s goals in sports and what she plans to achieve in the future

  • How to make practice fun

  • The music the Waters use for motivation during a tournament

  • What they give up to play Pickleball

  • Anna Leigh’s plans for her 14th birthday and how COVID-19 is impacting her party


In March (18-21), the mother/daughter duo will host The AAP Tour’s next tournament, The Delray Beach Open, in their hometown. 


Digital Press Kit (Interviews, Tournament Videos, Highlights, Photos, Schedules)

Lynn Cherry, Pickleball Fire Podcast: “Actually, the media kit was really helpful. It really made it very fast to prep and the timestamps on the (interview) videos were great because I could get to exactly what I wanted to see or hear. I think that is really key!”


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