2022 PPA Austin Open

Singles

2:10:56 Anna Leigh Waters vs Yana Grechkina Commentary: Lea Jansen

1:20:43 Anna Leigh Waters vs Callie Smith

5:28:16 Catherine Parenteau vs Anna Leigh Waters (Gold) (Highlights)

0:01 Tyson McGuffin vs Julian Arnold (Game 1) Commentary: Leigh Waters

Mixed Doubles

27:05 Anna Leigh Waters/Dekel Bar vs Jay Devilliers/Jessie Irvine 1:46:19 Riley Newman/Catherine Parenteau vs Anna Leigh Waters/Dekel Bar

3:21:45 Anna Leigh Waters/Dekel Bar vs Jay Devilliers/Jessie Irvine (Bronze)

1:05:12 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Matt Wright/Lucy Kovalova

2:25:58 Tyson McGuffin/Leigh Waters vs Jay Devilliers/Jessie Irvine

4:43:14 Anna Leigh Waters/G. Rancic vs Ben Johns/B. Rancic 4:56:53 Leigh Waters/B. Rancic vs Tyler Loong/Q. Ewers

Doubles

1:19:44 Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters vs Allyce Jones/Meghan Dizon

0:01 Catherine Parenteau/Jessie Irvine vs Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters

1:30:18 Lucy Kovalova/Callie Jo Smith vs Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters (Gold) (Highlights Analysis - TM Boiler Room Breakdown, Episode 16)  

News Reports

NML: PPA Tour Austin Open – 5 Takeaways – Opposite Directions

Anna Leigh Waters Claims First Triple Crown at PPA Riverland Open

The Pickler March 2022

 In her own words, Leigh Waters recaps her latest pro pickleball tournament - the PPA Riverland Open - with her daughter and pro women's doubles partner, Anna Leigh Waters...

To say it was windy is an understatement. The PPA Riverland Open in Port St. Lucie, Florida saw some of the highest sustained winds, not to mention gusts, that I personally have ever played in. The pro women’s doubles bracket was placed on a wind delay just after our first round match. Before that first match started, Anna Leigh and I discussed our strategy. Honestly, we felt like the wind was as much our opponent as the women standing across the net. We had a two-pronged plan: (1) keep our feet moving and (2) keep our eyes on the ball.  In the wind especially, these two steps were vital for survival.

After our first round win, and after the wind delay, we decided to have a nice lunch and go back to the hotel and relax. We actually tried to think about anything but pickleball. I took a nap, and AL looked at TikTok and did some stretching and recovery work. We knew we had a tough semifinal against Simone Jardim and Lucy Kovalova that evening, but we didn’t want to overthink the matchup. (Read More) 

Sun-Sentinel: Delray Beach teen sweeps three pro pickleball titles

Pickleball Magazine: March/April 2022

Behind The Scenes with Pro Anna Leigh Waters

 

• Do you have a formal pickleball coach?
  Not Really. My mom is my only coach. She helps me and travels with me.
• What living person do you most admire?
  My mom. She is the best mom I could ever ask for. She takes care of me.
• What are your future plans?
  I would like to play pickleball in the Olympics. I would like to be a part of that. As for life in general, if the opportunity is there, go take it. I haven't decided about college yet. I want to see where pickleball takes me. Right now, I am riding the pickleball wave. My goal is to get more juniors to play the sport.

Read Interview

March 22: Beat the Dream Team Series

 

10:39 Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters vs Lee Whitwell/Irina Tereschenko 58:07 Lee Whitwell/DJ Young vs Leigh Waters/Adam Stone 1:20:29 Anna Leigh Waters/Collin Johns vs Dekel Bar/Irina Tereschenko

Every Tuesday night, the Dreamland Stadium Court hosts demanding match ups between the worlds top pickleball players, with lightning fast play and rally scoring. 

NML Pickleball:Pickleball Analysis With a Passion

DUPR Beat the Dream Series Preview

Pro Pickleball Teen Phenom Anna Leigh Waters Wins More Gold

 West Orlando News

 

The top ranked professional Pickleball Women’s Singles Player in the world, 15-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, won her 10th pro singles title this month at the Professional Pickleball Association Riverland Open at the Riverland Sports and Racquet Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. 

Her winning was not limited at the tournament either, as she took home the triple crown at the event – which is winning gold in singles, in gender doubles and in mixed doubles. Read More

2022 PPA Riverland Open: Anna Leigh's 10th Singles Title, Triple Crown

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pickleball Pro Teen Anna Leigh Waters Wins 10th Singles Title, 1st Triple Crown

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL  (March 17, 2022 ) – The #1 Ranked Professional Pickleball Women’s Singles Player in the World Anna Leigh Waters, 15, won her 10th pro singles title Sunday at the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Riverland Open and first Triple Crown. A Triple Crown is when a player wins titles at the same tournament in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

 

The teenage superstar defeated Lea Jansen in the championship match: 11-2,11-8,11-0.  Note: A PPA championship match is 3 out of 5 games. Each game is to 11 points and must be won by 2 points.

 

Anna Leigh has won at least one singles title each month over the past 8 months:

 

1. February 2022: Ororo PPA Indoor National Championships Lakeville, MN

2. February 2022: PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam Mesa, AZ

3. January 2022: PPA Carvana Desert Ridge Open Phoenix, AZ

4. December 2021: Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships, Indian Well, CA

5. November 2021: PPA Masters, La Quinta, CA

6. October 2021: PPA Texas Open Shootout, Rockwell, TX

7. September 2021: PPA Orlando Cup, Orlando, FL

8. August 2021: Tournaments Of Champions, Brigham City, UT

9. August 2021: PPA The Takeya Showcase, Newport Beach, CA

10. March 2022: PPA Riverland Open Port St. Lucie, FL

Watch Anna Leigh’s Triple Crown Riverland Open Highlight/Interview Reel (11+ mins)

 

In January, Anna Leigh teamed up with Ben Johns,  the highest ranked men’s pickleball player in the world in all three divisions (singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles), to play mixed doubles. They are undefeated and won their 4th consecutive championship beating Jessie Irvine and Jay Devillers: 11-2,11-4,11-3 

Anna Leigh won the Pro Women’s Doubles title with her mom, Leigh Waters, beating Jessie Irvine and Catherine Parenteau:  12-10,11-6,11-8.  TeamWaters won the 2019/2021 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships Pro Women’s Doubles. 

The TeamWaters Pickleball Story Began in 2017

“The mother/daughter duo picked up the sport back in 2017 when they evacuated their home in Florida due to Hurricane Irma and stayed with Leigh’s parents for a couple of weeks. Leigh’s dad introduced them to the sport and from there they were hooked. “I think we played like morning, noon and night for two weeks straight while we were up there and the rest is history,” said Leigh.”

The inspiring mother/daughter journey can be followed on Facebook,  Leigh's Instagram and Anna Leigh’s Instagram. 

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

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Venise Chan Interviews Youngest Pickleball Queen, Anna Leigh Waters

 

Venise Chan: Pickleball University

VC: What is your motto in life and what do you love about pickleball? 

AW: My motto in life is have fun and do what you love! My pickleball motto however is Rip Bang Win Cake! Rip the ball, bang the ball, win the match, and celebrate with cake! I love a lot of things about pickleball, but some of my favorite things are getting to play a professional sport at a young age, traveling around the country with my family, and meeting new people! 

VC: Who do you train with and how do you train?

AW: I train with my mom, with JW Johnson (a top pro male player), and with local high level pickleball players and friends. I train pickleball 3-4 days a week unless there is a tournament! I do fitness and strength work about three days per week as well!

VC: You are so young and with incredible achievements already, what’s your next goal and how are you preparing for it?

AW: My next goal in pickleball is to win a triple crown! I have won 2 out of the three events for the past three tournaments so I would LOVE to will all of them! To achieve this goal, I am working on winning women’s doubles by working on certain shots and strategy that I feel will give me a shot at getting Gold!

VC: Do you prefer singles or doubles and why ?

AW: Most people will say I’m crazy but singles is my favorite because it’s just me on the court! Win or lose it’s all on me! (Read More)

Why Pickleball Should Be Your Next Hobby

2022 Arizona Grand Slam:  Anna Leigh Waters is here, there, then Leigh races across the court and hits an ATP winner. The crowd standing shoulder to shoulder cheers. (Watch Clip)

If you're seeking a game that'll get you moving and is easy to pick up, you should head to (or create) a pickleball court. 

Shape Magazine 

The smaller court size makes pickleball easier on the body — there's no need to cover a huge area on foot the way you may need to while playing tennis — so athletic prowess isn't a prerequisite here. This makes pickleball a great multigenerational option. Families can play together, with young children and seniors in the mix.

Leigh Waters, 42, and her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters, 15, appreciate that multigenerational appeal. They are the only mother-daughter duo to complete together in the world of professional pickleball, with both ranked among the top players in the United States. Waters, who was a tennis player in college, learned the game while visiting her father in 2017.

"It's probably the only sport where you can have a teenager, an 80-year-old, a novice player, and an advanced player on the same court, and you can still play a game and have fun," says Leigh. "There's something special about a sport that allows anyone to go play. I think that's [driving] the huge growth and success of the sport." (Read More)

2022 PPA Riverland Open

 

Anna Leigh Wins Triple Crown (Highlights/Interviews)

Mixed Doubles

3:36:33 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs Allyce Jones / Spencer Smith 4:09:02 Leigh Waters/ Patrick Smith vs Jessie Irvine / Jay Devilliers 5:06:03 Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns vs Catherine Parenteau / Riley Newman 6:39:04 Leigh Waters/ Patrick Smith vs Allyce Jones / Spencer Smith 7:06:19 Leigh Waters/ Patrick Smith vs Lucy Kovalova / Matt Wright

17:33 Ben Johns/Anna Leigh Waters vs. Jessie Irvine/Jay Devillers (11-2,11-4,11-3) (Interview) (Gold)

Doubles

1:38:16 Kamryn Blackwood/Parris Todd vs Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters

11:58 Simone Jardim/Lucy Kovalova vs Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters

3:15:14 Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters vs. Jessie Irvine/ Catherine Parenteau #TeamWaters (12-10,11-6,11-8) (Interview) Commentary: Lea Jansen (Gold)

Singles

5:38:54 Anna Leigh Waters vs Paris Todd (Game 1) End of Anna Leigh Waters vs Paris Todd match

5:20:33 Anna Leigh Waters vs. Lea Jansen (11-2,11-8,11-0) (Interview) (Gold)