There’s no shortage of evidence that Anna Leigh Waters is one of—if not the—greatest professional pickleball players in the world. She’s a generational talent who is destined to go down in history. But what truly makes her so dominant?

Waters recently addressed that very question during an appearance on the In Search of Excellence podcast.

“Most people say that what makes me really good at pickleball is my IQ, and that’s something I’ve had even before pickleball. Growing up, I played soccer and my best thing wasn’t my speed or how hard I could shoot the ball, it was always that I was smart,” explained Waters. “I think on the pickleball court it’s the same thing. It’s my decision-making.”

Put simply, Waters’ strategic approach separates her from everyone else. 

“One of my biggest strengths on the court is strategy because my mom is the best strategist in the game. We always have a really solid game plan before I go out there,” revealed Waters. “Some people go out and say ‘Alright, let’s just play,’ but they didn’t know their opponent’s backhand sucks. So if you hit the ball three times to their backhand, they’re going to eventually miss it.”

At the end of the day, planning makes the difference.

“It’s important to train and practice really hard, but you also have to be smart on the court, know where to hit certain balls, and change if something is not working,” emphasized Waters. 

The 18-year-old superstar values quality over quantity when it comes to her training.

“Practice the way you play a match. Some people put in six hours, and I’m only putting in two,” said Waters. “But in the two hours I’m playing, I’m working extremely hard, I’m not hitting any shots I wouldn’t hit in a match. That’s something that’s really helped me.” 

However, Waters’ mother and coach, Leigh Waters, believes her daughter’s mental toughness is what truly sets her apart.

“My mom’s always right, and she says that my mental toughness is what makes me the best,” she mentioned. “There’s been many matches where I’ve been down a game and it’s 7-1, and I’ve come back and won. I never count myself out of a game. I never give up, and I’m a fighter.”

Central to Waters’ relentless mindset is positive self-talk and belief.

Even when she’s down big, she never stops believing—and battling—like she can, and often will, come roaring back.

“I talk to myself a lot on the court,” she said. “It's always positive like ‘Fight!’ or ‘C’mon, you’ve got this!’ I’m never telling myself ‘Anna Leigh, you suck! Stop playing pickleball!’” 

Words carry weight, and the way Waters positively reinforces herself only strengthens her game.

“Being positive is something that’s really big that you can easily prepare for before the match starts,” she advised. “Once you get in the match, you have to keep reminding yourself of that.”

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