Waters and Parenteau stay perfect together, end 2023 with women’s doubles gold
SAN CLEMENTE, CA - Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau finished off an undefeated 2023 campaign in women’s doubles with an 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 victory over Anna Bright and Vivienne David.
The match was more competitive than the score line indicates, and the applause of fans filled the stands of Life Time San Clemente after nearly every point.
With such high-quality play on both sides of the net, the key for the No. 1 seeds was their ability to get to the kitchen from the transition zone, which ultimately made it difficult for Bright and David to be aggressive when they got to the kitchen first on return points.
This is Parenteau’s 33rd title on the PPA Tour, which moves her into second all-time behind only Ben Johns.
Even though she knew she had a shot to make this happen Sunday playing in two gold medal matches, the Canadian tried not to think about anything aside from the task at hand on the court.
“I tried to stop thinking about it, just play pickleball, and see what would happen,” she shared.
When commenting on her own undefeated season this year, Waters gave all the credit to her partner.
“I was just trying to take it one match at a time, but when you’re playing next to Catherine, it’s pretty hard to lose,” the 16-year-old said.
Waters and Parenteau will next share the court—on different sides of the net—later Sunday when they compete for the women’s singles title.
This will be their eighth time playing each other for singles gold in 2023, and though there have been some battles and close matches, Waters has won each one so far.
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