Anna Leigh Waters’ Reign in Pickleball: Anna Leigh Waters, the world’s top women’s pickleball player, suffered rare back-to-back losses at the PPA Tour North Carolina Open, signaling that her dominance in doubles may be slipping. On Sunday, April 6, 2025, she lost in the women’s and mixed doubles finals in Cary, North Carolina.
Waters and Catherine Parenteau were defeated 1-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 by Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black in the women’s doubles final. Later, Jorja and JW Johnson outplayed Ben Johns and Waters 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8 in mixed doubles.
Waters Still on Top, but Gap is Narrowing
Anna Leigh Waters remains the best in the game, but her lead is not as strong as in previous years. In 2025, she’s winning closer to 70% of her doubles matches, compared to 90-95% in 2023 and 2024. This trend could mean more competition and closer matches in the months ahead.
JW Johnson and his sister Jorja were a big part of that shift in North Carolina. But they’re not alone. Anna Bright, Tyra Black, and Jorja Johnson are pushing Waters hard in women’s and mixed doubles.
Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher were the first to challenge Waters and Parenteau in 2024, winning three times and coming close in others. Though they’ve slowed down in 2025, other teams have stepped up.
Recent Results Show Changing Field
Here are Waters’ recent close matches and losses in 2025:
Women’s Doubles:
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Mesa Cup: Waters/Parenteau def. Bright/Rohrabacher 4-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-1.
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Texas Open: Callie Smith/Etta Tuionetoa def. Waters/Parenteau 4-11, 11-8, 11-8.
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North Carolina Open: Black/Johnson def. Waters/Parenteau 1-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7.
Mixed Doubles:
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PPA Tour Masters: Johns/Waters def. Christian Alshon/Black 7-11, 11-5, 12-10.
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Tucson Open: Johns/Waters def. Andrei Daescu/Pisnik 11-9, 9-11, 11-8.
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Mesa Cup: Bar/Bright def. Johns/Waters 12-10, 7-11, 11-9.
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Cape Coral Open: Johns/Waters def. Bright/JW Johnson 4-11, 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5.
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Texas Open: Johns/Waters def. Bright/Hayden Patriquin 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.
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North Carolina Open: Johnson/Johnson def. Johns/Waters 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8.
Women’s Singles:
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Mesa Cup: Waters def. Brooke Buckner 4-11, 11-9, 11-5.
Paddles Making a Difference
Two players seeing success—Bright and Johnson—are using new paddles this season. Bright plays with the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV, while Johnson uses the Franklin C45. Both paddles are light, easy to handle, and powerful. These features may help female players perform better in fast-paced rallies.
Parris Todd, who also uses the Franklin C45, teamed up with Tyra Black to beat Bright and Rohrabacher at the Texas Open. This week, the “Girlies” (Bright and Rohrabacher) lost in the quarterfinals at the North Carolina Open to Jackie and Jade Kawamoto.
A More Open Race in 2025
Wins by teams like Johnson/Black and Johnson/Johnson show the women’s and mixed doubles fields are more competitive. While Waters and her partners are still tough to beat, it’s no longer a sure thing they’ll win. With more players rising, fans can expect exhilarating matches and new rivalries in the coming months.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters’ Reign in Pickleball
Anna Leigh Waters lost in women’s and mixed doubles at the North Carolina Open, raising questions about her recent dominance. While still the world’s top player, she’s been tested more in 2025. Competitors like Jorja Johnson, Tyra Black, and Anna Bright are closing the gap and making every match count.
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