PRO-file
Behind the Scenes with Pro
By Alice Tym
ANNA LEIGH
Waters
PHOTO BY STEVE TAYLOR
Age : 15 Hometown : Delray Beach , Florida School : Homeschooled
Pickleball Ranking : # 1 in Women ’ s Singles
Titles : 2021 Women ’ s Singles and Women ’ s Doubles gold with her mother at the USAP Nationals at Indian Wells ; 2022 PPA Desert Ridge Mixed Doubles gold with Ben Johns
Do you have a formal pickleball coach ? Not really . My mom is my only coach . She helps me and travels with me .
What do you think is your greatest weapon ? My two-handed backhand . I developed it playing four years of tennis . I switched to pickleball because I didn ’ t love tennis anymore and during [ the COVID-19 pandemic ] I quit playing tennis completely . Pickleball is so much fun and I can play professionally with my mom .
What quality do you possess that has helped you rise to such a high level at such a young age ? Love of the game has pushed me . Fun – I really enjoy the social aspect of the game . Some of my best friends are in pickleball . Opportunities happened for me .
When you play with your mother , how do you keep it on the court and not take it home ? When I first started , I played amateur , and she was a pro . In the beginning , she was my mom on the court . I respected her strategies . As I grew , our relationship grew . Now we tell each other strategies . No eye rolls ! In practice we can be a little catty , but we are very positive to one another , and we have fun .
What living person do you most admire ? My mom . She is the best mom I could ever ask for . She takes care of me .
Do you have a pre-game ritual or certain routines ? I eat a good meal the night before I play . I mess with my hair a lot . I tighten my hair . I fix my visor before I serve .
Have you ever wished upon a star ? I have all the time . I make a wish when it is 11-11 . And the angel numbers . Doesn ’ t everyone ?
What is your favorite song ? I like rap and hip-hop . But before I go on the court I play “ Eye of the Tiger .”
Do you have pets at home ? I have a bull mastiff dog named Maggie and a fish named Mr . Gills .
What is the toughest thing to handle being so young in an adult world ? Going to all these tournaments and still being a full-time student . People think homeschooling is easy , but it is tough .
What country would you most like to visit ? England or France because I am into soccer . I would like to see the Premier League games .
What is your favorite food ? I love Italian food … Chicken Parmesan . I like to cook . My mac and cheese is the best .
What is the most important quality in a boyfriend ? Nice and humble .
What is your motto ? Rip , bang , win , cake . Hit every shot as hard as you can . Rip it . Win and get cake . I have the ability to hit hard due to my tennis background . The most fun is to hit hard .
What are your future plans ? I would like to play pickleball in the Olympics . I would like to be a part of that . As for life in general , if the opportunity is there , go take it . I haven ’ t decided about college yet . I want to see where pickleball takes me . Right now , I am riding the pickleball wave . My goal is to get more juniors to play the sport . •