How Ben Johns Knew Anna Leigh Waters Was Special: Anna Leigh Waters has become the dominant force in women’s pickleball, securing multiple Triple Crowns and the World No. 1 ranking. But years before her rise, Ben Johns first noticed her potential when she was just 10 years old, playing alongside her mother, Leigh Waters, in tournaments.
As Waters and her mother competed, they met Johns, who would later become her mixed doubles partner. “I met Anna Leigh when she was maybe 10 years old,” said Johns. While it was difficult to predict her future success at that age, Johns saw something special in her game.
Early Signs of Talent
Johns admitted that spotting greatness in young players is not easy. “It’s hard to see any kind of obvious sign when they’re that young. Obviously now, she’s super mentally resilient and mentally dominant, but those characteristics are hard to see at 10 years old,” he explained. However, he recognized her natural shot-making ability.
“She had some very natural shots that are not easily taught, which is something you always look for in good pickleball players,” he added.
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A Unique Playing Style
Johns recalled that Waters’ game stood out. “There’s something that makes a player special or good, and it’s not something anybody else can easily replicate,” he said. “She had some good shots, the way she moved, and how she hit the ball. You saw it and thought, ‘That’s different.’ But when things are different, they often turn into something very good, right?”
Waters and her mother changed the pace of professional pickleball. The sport had been dominated by a soft, controlled game at the net, but they brought a powerful, aggressive style. Some players resisted this shift, but Johns encouraged them to stick with their approach.
Challenging Tradition
Johns saw the evolution of pickleball as an opportunity.
“Pickleball is what I like to call an ‘unsolved sport’—because it’s so new, and even more new when she and Leigh came on the scene,” he said. “So having an accepted way to do things is not really the proper approach to a new sport like this. I think you can always learn from people.”(Ben Johns)
Their style worked against top players, and Johns never saw it as a novelty. “I think it was working because they’ve gotten very good at something that their opponents were not seeing,” he said. “So to me, I thought that if you’re doing something at this age and it’s working this well, I don’t see why you should stop. Don’t turn off what makes you special.”
A Lasting Impact
Waters has since become an unstoppable force in pickleball, with her aggressive game changing how the sport is played. With Johns’ encouragement and her natural ability, she has redefined what it means to be dominant in women’s pickleball.
News in Brief: How Ben Johns Knew Anna Leigh Waters Was Special
Ben Johns first met Anna Leigh Waters when she was 10 years old and saw signs of her unique pickleball skills. As she and her mother changed the sport with an aggressive style, Johns encouraged them to continue. Today, Waters is the World No. 1 and a multiple-time Triple Crown winner.
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