Interviewer: Congratulations on your win over Kaitlyn Christian. With the new year and a new ball, what was the discussion with your team before heading out to the Masters?
Anna Leigh Waters: Thank you! We talked about the tournament in general, focusing on preparation. I took a good break from pickleball, about three weeks and a couple of days without even touching the paddle. But in the last two weeks, I've been working hard, trying out new things and adjusting to the new ball.
Interviewer: You mentioned playing Kaitlyn since you were 12. Can you share some insights into your pickleball history with her?
Anna Leigh Waters: Absolutely. I've been playing against Kaitlyn since I was 12, and our first match was at Nationals in 2019, maybe even 2018. It's been a long history, and she was often my first-round opponent. It's interesting to see how much she has improved since then. She got a good lead on me in the match, but I'm glad to secure the win.
Interviewer: Facing Kaitlyn, who's known for her athleticism coming from the WTA tour, what adjustments did you have to make, especially with her covering the kitchen line so well?
Anna Leigh Waters: I knew she would come in after my shots, so I decided to start coming in as well. If she passed me, I'd have to stay back, but fortunately, towards the end, I could come in more. She has great passes, and being tall at the net adds to the challenge.
Interviewer: With the younger fans cheering for you on the sidelines, how important are the youngsters to the game, and how did you engage with them?
Anna Leigh Waters: It was fantastic to see the young fans. Initially, it made me a bit nervous, wanting to impress them. Eventually, I decided to have fun and engage with them during the match. It's crucial to involve youngsters in the sport for its growth.
Interviewer: Your mom mentioned you were coaching for most of the week. How was it having her on your bench this time, with the roles reversed?
Anna Leigh Waters: It was nice to have her on my bench. Although, I might like coaching better because I can just give instructions without executing them. It's a nice change, but she had to leave to coach Christian, her mix partner. Apparently, he has priority over me when they play together.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, you might face your mom in mixed later in the tournament. How do you feel about that potential matchup?
Anna Leigh Waters: Ben and I always go three with whoever my mom plays within mixed doubles. It's always a tough match, and while I'm excited to see it happen, it's also a bit nerve-wracking. But no coaching against me, that's the deal.
Interviewer: After a successful year with Triple Crowns and numerous wins, what are your goals for this year?
Anna Leigh Waters: Last year, I put pressure on myself not to lose a match, which got in my head. This year, I want to focus on learning new shots, trying out trickier stuff, and becoming mentally stronger. Ultimately, I aim to have fun because I have many more years of pickleball ahead in my career.
Interviewer: Thank you, Anna Leigh, and congratulations again on your win. Good luck in the rest of the tournament!
Medals: Anna Leigh’s 47 medals in 2023 were all gold medals. She averaged 2.76 gold medals per tournament played in 2023.
Singles: Waters won 14 times in 17 tournaments. The gold medal matches were against four different opponents. The three times she did not reach the finals: She lost to Catherine Parenteau in the semifinals at the Florida Open; she lost to Hurricane Tyra Black in the quarterfinals at the Takeya Showcase, and she withdrew from the Hertz Gold Cup (at Daytona Beach).
Doubles: Waters was undefeated in Women’s Doubles. She won ten times with Catherine Parenteau, including the last five tournaments of the year, and seven times with Anna Bright. The 17 gold medal matches were against 14 different teams. (Read More)
Pickleball Y’all!“Everything is bigger in Texas” proved true during the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships powered by Invited and the PPA Tour where more than 50,000 attendees descended upon Brookhaven Country Club to take part in the biggest event in the history of pickleball.
By Drew Wathey
What Anna Leigh Waters is doing on a pickleball court is unprecedented and it’s almost unimaginable that a 16-year-old is dominating a sport such as she is. Already having captured 19 career Triple Crowns, Waters began her quest to unlock the tie with Ben Johns in that category and easily won the mixed doubles crown with Johns by beating her practice partners back in Florida, Anna Bright and James Ignatowich, who were the #2 seeds, 11-6, 11-5 and 11-3. For the top-seeded Johns-Waters pairing, the win marked their 14th gold medal of the year. “There are some pros and cons about playing Anna and James and it’s pretty weird, but I’m glad to see that they made it to the finals this year,” said Waters. (Read More) (Instagram Post)
Pickleball Reaches New Heights with Historic Goodyear Blimp Match
Iconic blimp provides aerial coverage of sport's finals for the first time
The fastest growing sport in America has officially arrived. This week, pickleball soared to a whole new level - literally - as a match was played inside the iconic Goodyear Blimp. Soaring 1,500 feet above Carson, California, pros Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau and Jay Devilliers made history with the first-ever pickleball game in the blimp. And in another milestone for the emerging sport, the blimp is providing aerial coverage over this weekend's Professional Pickleball Association Tour Finals, marking pickleball's debut appearance under the watchful eye of the famous airship.
For over 90 years, the Goodyear Blimp has been an integral part of American culture and sports broadcasting. As Goodyear Blimp pilot Taylor Deen explains, "We basically invented aerial broadcasting of sports." From World War II to christenings by Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride to emergency broadcasting, the blimp has borne witness to history. And since 1955, when Goodyear provided the first live aerial TV broadcast of the Rose Bowl, the blimp has been a staple at major sporting events. Says Deen, "We fly over all the largest events - Super Bowls, NASCAR, World Cups, Stanley Cup, NBA Finals - so if we're there, it's usually a pretty big event." Pickleball now joins the ranks of these legendary competitions.
16-year-old Anna Leigh, the #1 ranked pickleball player globally, has dreamed of this moment. "I've always been like, alright, your sport's kind of made it if the Goodyear blimp comes to it. So I guess pickleball's made it now!"
Indeed, since the pandemic, pickleball has exploded across America, with nearly 9 million players. Waters has watched the sport grow tremendously during her 4 years on the pro circuit. With the game's pioneers taking it to new heights - both on the court and in the sky - pickleball has certainly earned its blimp-worthy status.
