Pickleball Stars Shine Bright in 2024 Mid-Season Awards
Anna Leigh Waters and Federico Staksrud Lead the Pack as Top Performers
The 2024 Pickleball.com Mid-Season Awards have recognized the crème de la crème of the rapidly growing sport, highlighting outstanding performances, breakthrough stars, and influential personalities. Spanning categories across the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, Major League Pickleball (MLP), and equipment preferences, these awards offer a comprehensive snapshot of professional pickleball's current landscape.
The PPA Categories showcased a mix of established stars and rising talents. Hayden Patriquin and Tina Pisnik were recognized as the most improved players, while Quang Duong and Kaitlyn Christian earned breakout player honors. Federico Staksrud and Anna Leigh Waters claimed the prestigious Player of the Year titles. The awards also celebrated personalities like Jack Sock and Anna Bright, as well as fan favorites Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters. The Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente was named the top tour stop of the year.
The 2024 Pickleball.com Mid-Season Awards have illuminated the diverse talents, personalities, and trends shaping professional pickleball. From the continued dominance of players like Anna Leigh Waters and Federico Staksrud to the emergence of exciting new talents and the recognition of crucial behind-the-scenes figures, these awards provide a comprehensive view of the sport's current state. The honors also highlight the multifaceted nature of professional pickleball, recognizing not just on-court performance but also style, personality, and contributions to the sport's growing media presence. As pickleball continues its rapid growth, these awards serve as both a celebration of current excellence and a preview of the sport's bright future.
Former tennis player now among world's best on another court
In a remarkable athletic second act, former University of South Carolina women’s tennis player Leigh (Eichelberger) Waters has reemerged as one of the top professional pickleball players in the world—this time, as part of a mother-daughter duo with her then-13-year-old daughter, Anna Leigh Waters.
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| January 22, 2001 |
Waters describes pickleball as deceptively fast-paced, with dynamic exchanges and a growing emphasis on aggressive play. She and Anna Leigh brought a tennis-style “banger” approach that disrupted the traditional slow, “dinking” style associated with the sport’s older demographic. Their impact helped usher in a younger, faster era of pickleball.
Waters, once ranked 6.4 on the sport’s 6.5-point rating scale, has now embraced a full-time pickleball lifestyle, trading in her legal career to travel the country for competitions, teach the sport, and build brand partnerships. Meanwhile, Anna Leigh balances pickleball with homeschooling, competitive tennis, and high-level soccer.
Reflecting on her roots, Waters fondly recalls her time at South Carolina and the camaraderie of the Gamecock athletic community. Though her days on the tennis court are over, she’s found a new kind of family and fulfillment—on a slightly smaller court, with a paddle in hand and her daughter by her side. (Source: 2020 South Carolina Gamecocks Article)
