
Anna Leigh Waters reflects on 200 PPA Tour titles: ‘It’s been a crazy ride’
Anna Leigh Waters, the most decorated pickleball athlete of all time, hit another milestone in her career on Sunday at the Veolia Chicago Cup: her 200th career PPA Tour title.
The 19-year-old hit that record-extending mark with her and Ben Johns’ 11-4, 11-4 victory over No. 3 seeds Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson in the mixed doubles final.
Waters took a moment to thank all the partners she’s shared the court with over the years and to reflect on her journey to 200.
“It’s been a crazy ride,” she admitted. “I fought just as hard in this match as I did for my first ever one. Obviously the first gold’s the toughest to get, but I’m just going to keep working my butt off and hopefully get more milestones like this.”
66 of Waters' titles, including Sunday morning’s, have come next to Ben Johns in mixed doubles.
Johns, who has 188 PPA Tour titles himself, spoke about his own experience competing alongside Waters and seeing her grow up in the professional pickleball space.
“I met her when she was 11 years old, and that’s eight years ago now, going on nine. It’s been really cool not just to watch her dominate the sport and get better and better these past years, but it’s just been really cool to see her go from what I knew in the very beginning as just as kid to an amazing adult,” he mentioned. “She always wants to win, and that’s just really, really great to play with and to see. It’s always inspiring, and a big congrats to her because it’s just remarkable for anyone to see. It’s a privilege to me, and I think it’s a privilege for everybody.”
Waters will have two chances to add to her total later Sunday afternoon when she teams up with Anna Bright in the women’s doubles final before facing off against Kate Fahey in the women’s singles final.
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