Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters secured a thrilling victory in the women’s doubles final at the Daytona Beach Open in Holly Hill. They defeated Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black with a score of 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4, claiming their first PPA title together since the 2022 Texas Open.
Comeback Victory
The match started slowly for the Waters duo, as they dropped the first game and found themselves trailing 1-7 in the second.
However, they made a remarkable comeback, turning the tide of the match and closing it out in four games. Anna Leigh emphasized the importance of having fun during the match.
“For the first game and a half, Jorja and Tyra were playing amazing, but we just weren’t having fun. We were putting too much pressure on ourselves, and then my mom looked at me and said ‘Anna Leigh, you’re playing with your mom. Just have some fun out there.’ I had a couple scrappy points, mom had some good speedups, and then we felt pretty good the rest of the way through.” – (Anna)
Strategic Play
Leigh Waters also shared her approach to the match, focusing on steady play and supporting her daughter during crucial rallies.
“When I try to be the act out there, that’s when things go badly. When I realized that and just tried to be the supporting act, make balls, and set [Anna Leigh] up and wait for my speed-up opportunity, that’s when we did our best.” – (Leigh)
The victory holds special significance for the Waters family, marking Leigh’s return to high-level competition after two years of primarily coaching.
“I just wanted to have a blast out here with her and do this one more time. I never expected to win the darn thing, but here we are. I couldn’t be happier.” – (Leigh)
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Bronze Medal Match
In the bronze medal match, Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto defeated Tina Pisnik and Allyce Jones by a score of 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, showing strong performances throughout the tournament.
The success of the Waters duo not only adds another title to their accomplishments but also highlights the growing competitiveness in women’s pickleball. Their performance at the Daytona Beach Open will undoubtedly influence future tournaments and partnerships in the professional court.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters
Anna Leigh Waters and Leigh Waters won in the women’s doubles final at the Daytona Beach Open, defeating Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4. After a slow start, the Waters duo rallied back, with Anna Leigh emphasizing the importance of having fun during the match.
Leigh, returning to competition after two years, expressed joy in sharing the court with her daughter. In the bronze medal match, Anna Bright and Jackie Kawamoto overcame Tina Pisnik and Allyce Jones 7-11, 11-3, 11-6.
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