Anna Leigh Waters Claims Humana Crown: World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters overcame a tough challenge to win the women’s singles final at the Humana Championship on Sunday. She rallied from the brink of defeat to secure a 4-11, 11-9, 11-5 victory over No. 3 seed Brooke Buckner at the 2025 Carvana Mesa Cup.
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Waters had a rough start, falling behind 0-7 in the first game. Buckner played with precision, using her powerful baseline drives and sharp net play to control the match early. This dominance led to a comfortable Game 1 win for Buckner.
Buckner’s Net Play Proves Effective
The former University of Michigan tennis player has established herself as a top singles contender over the past year. She credited her improved net game as a key factor in her strong performance.
“It’s something I’ve been working on, for sure. I think as the depth of women’s singles has gotten so much better, I knew that I wasn’t going to get by just passing people from the baseline because that’s what I relied on so heavily. Those shots are still there, but as everybody gets better and more athletic, it wasn’t gonna work. I realized that I was either gonna lose more or I was gonna improve coming forward.” – (Buckner)
That improvement was evident as Buckner built a 9-4 lead in Game 2, putting her just two points away from victory. However, Waters made a critical adjustment by coming to the net more frequently, allowing her to change the tempo of the match.
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Waters’ Tactical Shift Secures the Win
“[Brooke] hits so hard but is also very consistent, so I felt like I was on my heels from the first point. That’s why I felt like when I started coming in it was a lot easier because I wasn’t having to deal with those super hard groundies and wasn’t getting pushed super far back.” – (Waters)
“I was just kind of taking balls early and trying to push my shots deep and then get into more of the cat-and-mouse game, which I feel like is more of my strength.” – (Waters)
This shift in strategy helped Waters go on a seven-point run to claim Game 2, extending the match to a deciding third game. With momentum on her side, she dominated the final game to complete her second comeback victory of the day.
The win further solidifies Waters’ status as the top player in women’s singles. Meanwhile, Buckner’s strong showing proves she remains a formidable opponent as she continues to refine her game.
News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters Claims Humana Crown
World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Brooke Buckner 4-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the women’s singles final at the Humana Championship. Down 9-4 in Game 2, Waters adjusted her strategy, fought back, and dominated the final game to secure another title victory.
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