Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in Women’s Doubles Final: In a display of dominance that left little doubt about their supremacy, Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau dispatched the 14th-seeded duo of Judit Castillo and Ewa Radzikowska with a convincing score of 11-5, 11-2. Their seamless victory secures them a coveted spot in the women’s doubles final.
Top Seeds Dominate the Draw
From the outset of the tournament, Waters and Parenteau showed their skills, sweeping through the draw with an almost effortless ease. Their path to the gold medal match was marked by a series of one-sided victories, with their opponents managing to score no more than five points in any game against them.
For Castillo and Radzikowska, the journey to the semifinals was remarkable. Their unexpected run included notable wins over the formidable pairs of Lacy Schneemann and Jade Kawamoto—silver medalists from Kansas City—and Simone Jardim and Allyce Jones. Despite their valiant efforts, the semifinal proved to be a step too far.
An International Flavor
A fascinating subplot of this match was the international makeup of the players. Castillo, hailing from Spain, and Radzikowska, from Poland, were pitted against Parenteau, who represents Canada. This blend of nationalities shows the increasing global appeal of pickleball.
“It means so much,” Parenteau said, reflecting on the sport’s growing international footprint.
“I was watching the Olympics over the past few weeks, and I was wishing I was in it for pickleball. You see players coming from all sorts of countries, and it’s super exciting for the game.” – (Parenteau)
A Global Vision for the Future
The sport’s expanding international presence is no accident. In July, the United Pickleball Association (UPA) announced the UPA International Championship Series, scheduled to kick off in 2025. This ambitious series will feature events across Australia, India, Canada, Asia, Europe, and the United States, further solidifying pickleball’s global stature.
Focus Shifts to the Final
As the anticipation builds, Waters and Parenteau are firmly focused on their next challenge in Tennessee. They await the outcome of the second semifinal, where the No. 2 seeds, Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher, will face off against the No. 7 seeds, Jorja Johnson and Vivian Glozman. The winners of this match will be their opponents in the final, adding excitement to an already thrilling tournament.
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News in Brief: Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau in Women’s Doubles Final
Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau breezed past No. 14 seeds Judit Castillo and Ewa Radzikowska with scores of 11-5, 11-2 to secure a spot in the women’s doubles final in Bristol, TN. The top seeds dominated the tournament, conceding no more than five points in any game.
Castillo and Radzikowska’s impressive run included wins over notable pairs like Lacy Schneemann/Jade Kawamoto and Simone Jardim/Allyce Jones. The match highlighted the sport’s international growth, with players from Spain, Poland, and Canada competing. Waters and Parenteau will face the winners of the second semifinal.
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