Inside the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championship: Anna Leigh Waters and her mother, Leigh Waters, repeated as women’s doubles champions at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships, held on Saturday, May 3, at East Naples Community Park in Florida. The event drew thousands of fans and crowned five new pro-level champions across men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions.
The tournament marked its ninth edition with big crowds and breakout performances from young talents like Jack Munro, Len Yang, and Megan Fudge, who each walked away with gold medals in more than one event.
Big Names and New Faces in the Spotlight
The women’s pro doubles final saw Anna Leigh Waters, ranked No. 1 in the world, join her mother Leigh Waters to win their second straight US Open title. They defeated Jillian Braverman and Megan Fudge with scores of 11-0 and 11-4 in just 29 minutes.
Although Anna Leigh Waters didn’t go far in mixed doubles with tennis legend Andre Agassi earlier in the week, she bounced back strongly with a dominant doubles display.
Young Duo Takes Men’s Pro Doubles Title
Jack Munro and Len Yang, both 21 years old, won the men’s pro doubles championship. They beat Ryler DeHeart and Richard Livornese in two sets: 14-12 and 11-5. The first set was tight, but the young pair took control in the second. Len Yang thanked his partner for believing in him.
“I have to thank Jack a lot. I just moved to Austin in February. Jack took a chance on me in this tournament. I owe him a lot.” – (yang)
Despite losing, Richard Livornese praised his teammate Ryler DeHeart’s vision on the court.
“We tried to calm down, stay a little more in the game, and it always helps when your partner’s eyes are unreal … I really enjoyed being here.” – (Livornese)
The win followed a hard-fought semifinal for Munro and Yang, who went to three sets against Armaan Bhatia and Harsh Mehta: 11-6, 7-11, 12-10.
Mixed Doubles Win Adds to Munro, Fudge’s Golden Weekend
Jack Munro also won in mixed pro doubles alongside Megan Fudge. They defeated Riley Bohnery and Richard Livornese. Munro credited his partner for leading the way.
“I’m just here for the ride. I’m just serving and returning and she’s doing everything else… This was one of the best crowds all week.” – (Munro)
Fudge Also Dominated the Women’s Singles Final
Megan Fudge continued her strong run with a victory in women’s pro singles. She beat Bobbi Oshiro in two sets: 11-4 and 11-7. Fudge stayed aggressive and forced Oshiro into mistakes.
“I just feel like I’m playing chess out there. Thank you to my team, my coach for giving me notes every morning on how I’m going to attack this day. Definitely credit to him in a singles game that allowed me to stay calm and execute his gameplan.” – (Fudge)
Chris Haworth Wins First US Open Title in Men’s Singles
Chris Haworth took home his first men’s pro singles gold medal. He beat Grayson Goldin in two sets: 11-3 and 11-6. Haworth moved Goldin around the court and took advantage of net mistakes. It was a big change from last year when he lost in the final to Jack Foster.
“Unfortunately, last year, the finals was probably one of my worst matches all year. I was not gonna come out here and play a bad match. I wanted to put on a show for you guys. It was a great match.” – (Haworth)
“We warmed up together this morning. We definitely know each other’s games and it can always go either way.” – (Haworth)
What Does This Mean for the Future of Pickleball?
This year’s US Open Pickleball Championships showed that new talent is rising fast. Players like Jack Munro, Len Yang, Megan Fudge, and Chris Haworth made strong statements. Meanwhile, stars like Anna Leigh Waters continued to show why they are at the top.
With the growth of pro pickleball and more players stepping up, tournaments like the US Open are becoming key stages for the sport’s next generation.
News in Brief: Inside the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championship
Anna Leigh Waters won her second straight women’s doubles title with her mother Leigh Waters. Jack Munro, Len Yang, Megan Fudge, and Chris Haworth also won gold. The 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, showcased rising talent and top-ranked players across all events.