United StatesWomenPro

Anna Leigh Waters

ANNA LEIGH WATERS

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DUPR

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Age

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Dominant hand

Anna Leigh Waters (born January 26, 2007)is an American professional pickleball player from Allentown, Pennsylvania. The "Queen of Pickleball," she reigns as world No. 1 in all three divisions: women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She turned pro at 12, the youngest pro player ever.

TOC

My encounter with pickleball

In 2017, while evacuating from Hurricane Irma, she discovered pickleball at her grandparents' home in Pennsylvania. At just10, she won a women's doubles gold medal. In 2019, at age 12, she made her pro debut and became the youngest pro player in history.

Astonishing competitive record

Career totals as of April 2026:

Gold medals:181 or more
Triple Crowns:39
More than 103 tournaments played in her career, with a win rate of93.8%
World No. 1 in all three PPA divisions: women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles

Her coach and doubles partner is her mother,Leigh Waters(a former South Carolina NCAA D1 tennis player); their mother-daughter pairing is unique in the pro pickleball world.Ben JohnsTheir mixed doubles boasts a 97.63% win rate, the strongest pairing ever.

Play style

Her greatest trait is an aggressive, fast-paced playing style. She overwhelms net battles with extraordinary reach and hand speed. On top of youthful athleticism, tactical guidance from her mother broadens her range of play.

Sponsors and influence

In January 2026 she signed a long-term deal with Franklin Sports(estimated at over $10 million). She uses the signature paddle "Franklin C45 Aurelius." She previously had a seven-year contract with Paddletek. She also signed an apparel and footwear deal with Nike, becoming the first Nike athlete in pickleball. With a large social media following, she is a symbolic figure in spreading pickleball to younger generations.

2026 highlights

MB Hanoi Cup 2026she won women's doubles paired withAnna Bright(beating Tyra Black / Catherine Parenteauin the final), andBen Johnswon mixed doubles paired with. After the tournament she also held a clinic in Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to pickleball's growth in Asia.

Reference Links

Recent tournaments

Coming soon