Waters apparently felt just fine with Newman , easily winning the gold medal match — 11-3 , 11-0 , 11-3 . “ Playing with Riley , we just tried to communicate really well because it was our first tournament playing together ,” she said . “ I try to stay true to my game and be positive to my partners .”
Perhaps the match of the tournament was women ’ s doubles where Waters played with Catherine Parenteau and faced off against Jessie Irvine and Anna Bright , a newcomer to center court . Down two games to none , Waters and Parenteau regrouped and fought back . “ In the women ’ s doubles match , I tried to stay true to my game and be aggressive even though we were down ,” Waters explained . “ I just realized we had played tentative for the first two games and at the beginning of the third game , we realized that we needed to stay confident and be more aggressive .”
Well , the new mindset worked for the pair , who took the next three straight games 11-9 , 11-4 and 11-4 , giving Waters the elusive Triple Crown !
Her regular doubles partner since she started playing pickleball has been her mom , Leigh , but an unfortunate injury forced the family matriarch to sit out the finals . The Waters women were going for a three-peat at Indian Wells . “ Unfortunately , on mixed doubles day , while I was playing with Tyson McGuffin , I crossed the court and poached off Tyson ’ s drive , and when I landed on my right leg , my knee twisted , and I fell to the ground . After evaluation , it was clear that I had to withdraw from the tournament at that moment ,” said Leigh .
Anna Leigh , who was a rising soccer star before she became immersed in pickleball , has had a year for the ages — one that has surprised those close to her just a bit , especially her mom . “ We knew that she had a lot of potential and a lot of talent as we watched her rise from an amateur to a pro very quickly ,” she said . “ But I had no idea that she would have the great mental strength to have the type of year she has had so far .”
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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 | MAGAZINE 35