The Rise of Anna Leigh Waters: The world of pickleball is buzzing with excitement as the Professional Pickleball Association holds its annual championship in Texas this weekend. Seventeen-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, the top-seeded pickleball player in all three divisions—singles, doubles, and mixed doubles—heads into the semifinals undefeated. Her meteoric rise in the sport, combined with her athletic background, has made her a dominant force on the court. In a recent interview, Anna Leigh Waters shared her journey into the sport and what sets her apart as a pickleball player.
Anna Leigh Waters’ Entry into Pickleball
Anna Leigh Waters’ entry into pickleball was purely by chance. Growing up in Florida, she and her mother were evacuated to Pennsylvania during Hurricane Irma in 2017. There, her grandfather, a seasoned pickleball player, convinced them to give the sport a try. Initially skeptical—due to their backgrounds as tennis players—Anna Leigh Waters and her mother soon found themselves enjoying the game from the first time they played.
“I just feel like because we did have that tennis background, we were kind of good at it from the start. But at the same time, it was a little different. We were playing it very aggressive. But actually, when we first started playing, the game was played a lot slower than it is now. So when we first started playing, everybody was like, oh, you need to play slower, like, hit softer shots. But we didn’t really play like that, which is probably what made the game more fun to us in the beginning.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
“We were playing it very aggressively,” said Anna Leigh Waters, reflecting on their initial approach to the sport. Their tennis skills helped them excel from the outset, and their competitive nature made the sport even more enjoyable. As the game evolved, so did her passion, ultimately propelling her to the top.
A Family Affair and Rising Through the Ranks
Anna Leigh Waters’ professional pickleball journey has been closely imbibed with her family. Initially playing at the lowest level, her mother, a seasoned pro, encouraged her to join her for a doubles tournament when her partner couldn’t attend. The pair finished second, and that was the turning point for Anna Leigh Waters’ career.
“When we first started playing tournaments, I was actually playing at the lowest level, and my mom started playing pro from, like, the first tournament, so she was very good. And then one day, her doubles partner decided not to come to an event, and she needed a replacement, so she asked me. We ended up getting, like, second in the tournament. And that was my first pro tournament ever, so she was like, all right, AL, I think you’re ready to be my partner. So we started playing professional tournaments together. And we eventually became the number one team about a year later.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
“she was annihilating me when I first started playing her. But the first time I ever beat her was the funniest situation because I think I was like 12, and I beat her in a tournament, and she had no idea what to do. She didn’t understand it. She thought – in her mind – she should still be beating me, you know, at that age. It was a really weird dynamic for a couple of days after that. But eventually, we figured it out.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
They went on to become the number-one doubles team within a year. Anna Leigh Waters also reminisced about a time when she faced off against her mother in singles. “She was annihilating me when I first started playing her,” she said, but at the age of 12, she managed to beat her mother for the first time—a win that led to a strange dynamic between them for days.
The Growing Popularity of Pickleball
The explosive growth of pickleball has been attributed to a variety of factors, not the least of which is its accessibility. Anna Leigh Waters believes the sport’s surge in popularity can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when many families began setting up courts in their driveways, and even celebrities embraced the game.
“Well, I think many different reasons. I like to say pickleball is like the only good thing that came out of COVID. Because a lot of families were, like, putting courts in their driveways. Even celebrities were putting courts in their houses. People didn’t really have anything to do during COVID, and they could go out maybe to a local park with their family to get out of the house and do something.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
“I like to say pickleball is easy to learn, but difficult to master. So, like, amateurs love playing, and can play at their own level. And then you’ve also got the pro side of it. And I think people realized that, and then it just started taking off.” – (Anna Leigh Waters)
“Pickleball is easy to learn but difficult to master,” Anna Leigh Waters explained, adding that its appeal spans from amateurs enjoying casual play to professionals competing at the highest levels. With its low barriers to entry and endless room for progression, pickleball has captured the hearts of many across the nation.
News in brief: The Rise of Anna Leigh Waters
As Anna Leigh Waters heads into the semifinals of the World Pickleball Championships, her rise to the top of the sport is undeniable. From a family connection to the sport to dominating on the court, she has proven herself as one of the most formidable players in the game.
With her relentless drive and strategic approach, Anna Leigh Waters is ready to continue her winning ways and inspire the next generation of pickleball players.
ALSO READ: Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters Eye Another Title at Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships