ANNA LEIGH WATERS STRETCHES TO HIT A FOREHAND VOLLEY IN THE SEMIFINALS OF PRO WOMEN ' S DOUBLES. at 5-all. But, like so many times before, Anna Leigh took over and on the third championship point, Oshiro found the net off a Leigh Waters forehand return. For Oshiro and Stewart, 33 unforced errors were too much to overcome. The final score was 11-6, and with it came a third-straight gold medal for Anna Leigh and Leigh.
“ Three years ago, when we were coming to this tournament, it was on our bucket list to win this together. It’ s just so special competing at the US Open and especially on center court, which is amazing,” said Anna Leigh, who first played at the Open as a 12-year-old in a split age event with her 71-year-old grandfather.
“ I’ m very proud of my mom. I want this moment to be more about her. She doesn’ t train on the pro tour anymore. She gets nervous about this tournament every year but will train hard for a couple of weeks leading up to it. How she played this week is truly amazing. I couldn’ t have done it without her.”
For Leigh, it’ s all about not wanting to let her 19-year-old daughter down.“ I just don’ t want to be the reason that she loses. But it’ s so special to be here. I feel the love here from the crowd more than anywhere we go, and we go to a lot of places. This third gold medal is the highlight of my career. She’ s just a special girl on and off the court and I’ m so proud of her.”
Earlier in the tournament, Stewart stood atop the medal stand after the Women’ s Pro Singles final where she easily handled Seone Mendez, 11-4, 11-1, for the gold medal.
Stewart has been playing well of late, and found her confidence after winning the APP Great Lakes Open last year. Going into the US Open, Mendez was 2-1 against Stewart, but Stewart had won the last meeting 11-6, 11-8. Both are former Top 200 tennis players in the WTA.
Speaking of tennis, with a name familiar to everyone, International Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl captured gold in Men’ s Doubles 5.0 with Dean Packard and then
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MAY / JUNE 2026 | MAGAZINE 31