Rise of Anna Leigh Waters: Is Anna Leigh Waters more dominant in pickleball than Serena Williams was in tennis? Zane Navratil, a professional pickleball player from Australia, believes so. On social media, Zane Navratil shared his thoughts, comparing Anna Leigh Waters’ winning streak to Serena Williams’ legendary tennis career.
A Bold Statement on Dominance
Zane Navratil, a regular on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and co-host of the PicklePod podcast, sparked debate online.
“Anna Leigh Waters is far more dominant than Serena Williams ever was. Obviously tennis is far more competitive, established, mainstream, etc. (for now) but ALW hasn’t lost a singles match in over a year and she wins mixed and women’s doubles 90+ per cent of the time.”-(Zane Navratil)
This strong opinion raised comparisons between two of America’s top racquet sports athletes.
Serena Williams’ Historic Career
Serena Williams is considered one of the best tennis players in history. She won 39 Grand Slam titles, which includes 23 singles titles — the most in the Open Era — plus 14 women’s doubles and 2 mixed doubles championships.
She also dominated World Tennis Association (WTA) events, winning 73 of 98 singles finals and 23 doubles titles, losing only two doubles finals. Serena Williams held the world’s No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks and earned respect worldwide for her power, focus, and success.
Anna Leigh Waters’ Rise in Pickleball
Anna Leigh Waters, just 18 years old, is already a superstar in pickleball. She turned pro in 2017, becoming the youngest player on tour, and now holds the No. 1 ranking in women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour.
As of June 2025, she has won 151 titles on the PPA Tour. She has also won 50 women’s singles titles and 34 triple crowns (winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in one event). She holds a record 51 total PPA Tour titles and is unbeaten in singles for over a year.
Anna Leigh Waters and her mother, Leigh Waters, won the 2025 US Open women’s pro-doubles title. However, she did suffer a rare loss in doubles on April 8, 2025, with partner Catherine Parenteau in the final of the Veolia North Carolina Open against Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black.
Comparing Two Legends
Despite Anna Leigh Waters’ amazing record, some experts believe it is too soon to compare her with Serena Williams. Serena proved herself on courts all around the world. Anna Leigh Waters has only competed in the United States, mostly in tournaments like the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.
Still, Waters has faced top talent in every match she’s played and dominated regularly. Yet, she has not yet experienced playing in other countries or adjusting to different conditions — something Serena Williams did often during her global career.
Two Icons of U.S. Racquet Sports
Both Anna Leigh Waters and Serena Williams have achieved greatness in their sports. One has ruled pickleball at a young age, and the other ruled tennis for two decades. Though their paths are different, both athletes represent the highest level of success in racquet sports.
News in Brief: Rise of Anna Leigh Waters
Zane Navratil believes Anna Leigh Waters is more dominant in pickleball than Serena Williams was in tennis. While Waters is the top-ranked PPA player with 151 titles, Serena’s 39 Grand Slam wins and global achievements stand tall. Both remain among the greatest American racquet sports players of all time.
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