Jack Foster battled Chris Haworth , but held on to take home the Men ’ s
Pro Singles crown , 11-5 , 11-4 .
PHOTO BY BELINDA DETTMAN
More than 3,200 participants , consisting of pro and amateur players from 31 countries , and 50,000 visitors filled East Naples Community Park for the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships .
As the dawn of a new day welcomed the warming sun in Naples , Florida , the $ 150,000 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships was set to crown its next wave of champions .
Anna Leigh Waters and JW Johnson dominated , winning two gold medals each , including as a team in mixed doubles . Teenage phenom Anna Leigh , who recently captured her 100th gold medal at the Carvana PPA Tour in Cary , North Carolina , is clearly the most talented woman playing the sport . Her closest competitor in gold medals is Catherine Parenteau with 37 .
With Anna Leigh entering only mixed doubles and women ’ s doubles at this year ’ s US Open , enter her mom , Leigh Waters , who has been her playing partner since Anna Leigh turned pro but suffered a torn ACL in late 2022 . This was their first major event back together on the court . Parenteau had been filling in , but the Waters are now trying to pick up where they left off .
Across the net from Anna Leigh and Leigh in the semifinals were Parris Todd and Yana Newell . Todd had a fantastic season a year ago , capturing the Triple Crown at the US Open — winning singles , doubles and mixed doubles . But the Waters seemingly never missed a step as they easily moved on to the finals after winning 11-6 , 11-3 .
Waiting for them was a woman who captured hearts and imaginations long before anyone ever heard of Anna Leigh Waters . Triple Crowns were once synonymous with the name Simone Jardim , since she had won two at the US Open along with 13 gold medals . With 87 career pro titles , Jardim — who would later receive an Impact Award at this year ’ s tournament — was teamed with Allison Harris in perhaps one last opportunity to take part in unseating pickleball ’ s darling duo .
In two competitive games with numerous long rallies , the Waters prevailed 11-5 , 11-5 . Afterward , a disappointed Jardim praised her
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MAY / JUNE 2024 | MAGAZINE 29