Anna Leigh Waters Dominates at PPA Atlanta Pickleball Championships: A Tournament Recap
The Veolia PPA Atlanta Pickleball Championships proved to be one of the most thrilling tournaments of the year, featuring unexpected upsets, new partnerships, and a standout performance by Anna Leigh Waters, who secured yet another triple crown. The LifeTime Peach Tree Corners venue once again demonstrated why it’s a premier tour stop, with electrifying fan energy throughout the week-long event.
With 2,000 PPA points on the line, the tournament attracted all the top contenders on the tour, each giving their all in pursuit of victory. Let’s dive into the key storylines and highlights from this exciting event.
Anna Leigh Waters’ Remarkable Triple Crown Victory
Anna Leigh Waters continued her dominance in the pickleball world by claiming her 34th triple crown at the PPA Atlanta Pickleball Championships. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular across all three events. Here’s a breakdown of her impressive stats:
- Women’s doubles: 9-0 record, 99-28 point differential
- Women’s singles: 10-1 record, 117-42 point differential, 1 pickle
- Mixed doubles: 13-0 record, 143-41 point differential, 3 pickles
Overall, Waters went an astounding 32-1 in games, with her only loss coming in the second game of the singles final. She dominated her opponents with a combined score of 359-111, boasting a 76% point win percentage and more than tripling her opponents’ scores. Additionally, she achieved four pickles (11-0 wins) throughout the tournament.
Mixed Doubles Dominance
In mixed doubles, Waters and her partner Ben Johns continued their unstoppable run. They won every match they played, including a particularly impressive showing in the Round of 16 where they double pickled Lindsey and Riley Newman in a mere 14 minutes.
The finals saw Waters and Johns face off against Christian Alshon and Etta Tuionetoa, a top-five mixed doubles team. The result was a decisive victory for Waters and Johns, with scores of 11-3, 11-2, 11-7.
Women’s Doubles Success with New Partner
This tournament marked Waters’ first time playing with Anna Bright since the end of her partnership with Catherine Parenteau. The new duo, dubbed “The Annas,” lived up to expectations by dominating the competition without losing a single game.
Despite being seeded second, Waters and Bright demonstrated why they’re likely to be the top seed in future tournaments. They faced their toughest challenges in the semifinals and finals, where their opponents managed to score seven points in a game – the most any team achieved against them throughout the tournament.
The final match against Waters’ former partner Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher ended in a decisive victory for “The Annas” with scores of 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
Singles Supremacy
In singles play, Waters reaffirmed her status as the player to beat. She defeated Jorja Johnson, Brooke Buckner, and Parris Todd in straight sets, even achieving a pickle against Jorja in one game.
The finals saw Waters face Kate Fahey, against whom she held a 16-0 record prior to this tournament. Although Fahey managed to win a game – the first she’s ever taken from Waters – Anna Leigh ultimately prevailed, extending her winning streak against Fahey to seven matches.
This victory marked Waters’ 151st gold medal and 34th triple crown on the PPA Tour. If she maintains her current pace, we could see her celebrating her 200th gold medal on the PPA Tour around this time next year.
Ben Johns’ Impressive Performance
Ben Johns also had a standout tournament, reminiscent of his dominant 2023 form. He came close to securing a triple crown, which would have been his first since April 2024.
Singles Success
Johns faced a challenging path to the singles title, having to defeat Christian Alshon, Hunter Johnson, and Connor Garnett. In the quarterfinals, he overcame Alshon 14-12, 11-8. The semifinals saw Johns bounce back from a first-game loss to defeat Johnson 7-11, 11-3, 11-8.
The finals against Garnett proved to be a true test of Johns’ resilience. After losing the first game 3-11, he mounted an impressive comeback to win the next two games 11-9, 11-9. His emotional celebration at the end of the match highlighted just how much the victory meant to him.
Mixed Doubles Dominance
As mentioned earlier, Johns partnered with Anna Leigh Waters to claim the mixed doubles title in convincing fashion.
Men’s Doubles
Johns’ only loss of the weekend came in the men’s doubles final, where he and partner Gabe Tardio fell to CJ Klinger and JW Johnson. Despite this setback, Johns and Tardio had an impressive run to the finals, defeating top teams like Matt Wright and Riley Newman, as well as Andrei Daescu and Christian Alshon.
The level of competition in men’s doubles has become incredibly close in 2025, with five or six teams capable of winning any given tournament.
CJ Klinger and JW Johnson Claim Their First Gold Together
After earning two bronze medals earlier in 2025, Klinger and Johnson broke through to claim their first gold medal as a team in Atlanta. As the fifth seed, they had a challenging path to the finals.
In the quarterfinals, they upset the top-seeded team of Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud 11-3, 6-11, 11-8. The semifinals saw them defeat the fourth-seeded duo of Dylan Frazier and Dekel Bar 11-5, 11-13, 11-8.
The finals against Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns proved to be a closely contested match. Klinger and Johnson emerged victorious with scores of 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. A crucial turning point came in the second game when they overcame a 4-9 deficit to win seven straight points and take the game 11-9.
This victory establishes Klinger and Johnson as one of the elite men’s doubles teams on the PPA Tour, and they are expected to continue their success in upcoming tournaments.
Alex Crum’s Cinderella Run
One of the most surprising stories of the tournament was Alex Crum’s impressive run from the qualifying rounds all the way to the quarterfinals. Crum’s journey began with victories over three other qualifiers before entering the main draw.
In the main draw, Crum’s path included:
- Round of 128: Defeated Todd Fought (60th seed) 11-3, 11-2
- Round of 64: Upset Federico Staksrud (1st seed) 11-9, 5-11, 11-6
- Round of 32: Defeated Mota Alhouni (27th seed) 11-1, 4-11, 11-7
- Round of 16: Defeated Zane Navratil (49th seed) 11-5, 4-11, 11-5
Crum’s impressive run came to an end in the quarterfinals against Dylan Frazier, losing 10-12, 11-3, 3-11. However, his performance was so strong that it has created an interesting dilemma for his future in professional pickleball.
For more details on Crum’s remarkable run and the challenges he now faces, check out our feature article on his performance.
Other Notable Storylines
Pablo Tellez’s Heated Exchange with a Referee
During a singles match against eventual champion Connor Garnett, Pablo Tellez lost his composure in an interaction with a referee. The incident occurred when Tellez was down 8-10 in the second game and serving.
After receiving a technical warning for ball abuse, Tellez made a profane comment to the referee, resulting in a second technical warning and a subsequent technical foul. This awarded Garnett a point, ending the match in Garnett’s favor.
As he left the court, Tellez continued to express his frustration with the referee’s decision-making.
Lighting Issues at the Venue
Saturday’s play was delayed by two hours due to morning rain, pushing matches into the evening. The semifinal match between Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns and Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu highlighted some lighting issues at the LifeTime Peach Tree Corners venue.
Players and spectators noted significant shadows and a lack of adequate lighting. Some were surprised that the PPA Tour didn’t suspend the match and reschedule it for early Sunday, especially considering Ben Johns’ known issues with low-light conditions.
Debut of the LifeTime LT Ball
The tournament marked the first use of the LifeTime LT Ball in competition. The consensus among pros was generally positive, with players noting that the ball bounced slightly higher and truer than the Vulcan ball. It was also reported to play 10-15% quicker at the kitchen line.
The only criticism mentioned was that the LT Ball is slightly more difficult to shape compared to the Vulcan V-Pro Flight. With the next PPA Tour event also scheduled at a LifeTime facility, it’s likely we’ll see this ball in use again soon.
Federico Staksrud’s Controversial Statement
After his early exit from the singles competition, Federico Staksrud took to social media to express his thoughts on the state of singles pickleball. His claim that “singles pickleball has become mini tennis” sparked significant discussion within the pickleball community.
For a more in-depth look at Staksrud’s comments and the resulting debate, be sure to read our article outlining the details of this controversy.
Full Medal Results
Women’s Singles
- 🥇 Anna Leigh Waters
- 🥈 Kate Fahey
- 🥉 Parris Todd
Men’s Singles
- 🥇 Ben Johns
- 🥈 Connor Garnett
- 🥉 Hunter Johnson
Mixed Doubles
- 🥇 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns
- 🥈 Etta Tuionetoa/Christian Alshon
- 🥉 Jorja & JW Johnson
Women’s Doubles
- 🥇 Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters
- 🥈 Rachel Rohrabacher/Catherine Parenteau
- 🥉 Parris Todd/Hurricane Tyra Black
Men’s Doubles
- 🥇 CJ Klinger/JW Johnson
- 🥈 Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns
- 🥉 Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu
The Veolia PPA Atlanta Pickleball Championships delivered exciting matches, surprising upsets, and unforgettable moments. As the professional pickleball landscape continues to evolve, events like this showcase the sport’s growing popularity and the incredible talent of its top athletes.
