Christian Alshon Pickleball Coaching Split: Christian Alshon has ended his coaching relationship with Leigh Waters after two years, he announced Tuesday in a social media post. Waters played a key role in Alshon’s rise, but both agreed the arrangement was no longer working due to frequent conflicts of interest.
A Successful Run Together
Since teaming up in 2023, Christian Alshon earned 7 PPA titles, collected 38 PPA medals, and climbed into the top five in men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Leigh Waters was a major influence in that success.
Waters is also the coach and mother of world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters and serves as head coach of the New Jersey 5s in Major League Pickleball.
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The Conflict of Interest
According to Alshon’s post, problems surfaced because he and Anna Leigh Waters often faced each other in competition.
“Leigh and I found ourselves competing against each other too often, with her first obligation to coach her daughter, Anna Leigh, and The Fives.
This situation was more than understandable but still very stressful for both of us. It was an arrangement that seemed doable on paper, and was at the start, but just didn’t work well long term.”(Christian Alshon)
In mixed doubles matches on both the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, Leigh Waters always coached her daughter over Alshon. Over the last two years, Christian Alshon has faced Anna Leigh Waters 23 times in mixed doubles. Anna Leigh has won 21 of those matches.
Looking Ahead
Christian Alshon has not announced whether he will hire another coach. For now, his focus shifts to the Walgreens Open at the Las Vegas Strip. There, he will compete in men’s doubles with Andrei Daescu and in mixed doubles with Catherine Parenteau.
What It Means
The end of this partnership closes a successful but complicated chapter in Christian Alshon’s career. While his results under Leigh Waters were impressive, the ongoing clash of interests made change necessary. Fans will now watch closely to see who Alshon works with next and how it affects his performance moving forward.
News in Brief: Christian Alshon Pickleball Coaching Split
Christian Alshon has split with coach Leigh Waters after two years, citing conflicts when facing her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters, in competition. Their partnership produced 7 PPA titles and 38 medals. Alshon has not named a new coach but will compete at the Walgreens Open with Andrei Daescu and Catherine Parenteau.
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