- 50:18 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Lucy Kovalova/Matt Wright
- 2:11:18 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Steve Deakin/Catherine Parenteau
- 2:47:31 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Corrine Carr/Joey Farias
- 3:16:24 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Lucy Kovalova/Matt Wright
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Photo Credit: Carl Schmits) Anna Leigh Waters celebrated her 14th birthday January 26
Professional Pickleball National Champions Mother/Daughter Duo Ready For The Simone Jardim PPA Florida Grand Slam
TAMPA, FL (February 22, 2021) -- In 2020, after playing in one tournament 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 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) $60,000 Simone Jardim PPA Florida Grand Slam that is being held February 25-28 at the HCC Tennis Center.
In February 2019, the mother/daughter duo won the Simone Jardim Florida Grand Slam Women’s Doubles Gold Medal beating the world champions Simone Jardim and Corrine Carr, who had a 2016-2019 won/loss record of 67-1. Last year, the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Last month, TeamWaters, 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."
Leigh Waters curtsied to Anna Leigh on her 14th birthday
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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