Waters Chases 150 Gold at PPA Atlanta Amid Doubles Shakeups
What's the Score?
The PPA Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, a Slam-level event, is taking place at Life Time Peach Tree Corners. Key storylines include Anna Leigh Waters aiming for a historic 150 PPA Tour gold medals, the highly anticipated debut of new top-tier women's doubles partnerships formed after recent "breakups," and players navigating the challenges posed by the introduction of a reportedly "really fast" LifeTime ball.
Hit it deeper!
The return of the PPA Tour after a period focused on Major League Pickleball brings significant action to Atlanta, Georgia, with the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. Hosted at Life Time Peach Tree Corners, this tournament holds "Slam" status, meaning it offers 2,000 valuable PPA Points, twice the amount of a standard Open event, making results here particularly impactful for player rankings. The progressive draw structure, starting with the Round of 64, indicates a large field of competitors.
One of the most compelling narratives this week revolves around Anna Leigh Waters. The dominant force in women's professional pickleball is on the verge of a historic milestone, standing just two gold medals away from achieving 150 career PPA Tour gold medals. Waters reached her 100th gold medal back in April 2024 and has continued her winning ways. She had a previous opportunity to reach 150 at the same PPA North Carolina tournament where she hit 100, but Jorja Johnson thwarted her efforts in both women's and mixed doubles finals. Sources anticipate Waters will be intensely focused in Atlanta.
Adding considerable intrigue to the women's doubles draw is the shake-up in top partnerships following recent announcements often referred to as "the breakup(s)". Notably, Catherine Parenteau announced the end of her long-standing partnership with Anna Leigh Waters in early April. Subsequently, Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher also split. For the rest of the 2025 season, Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters have teamed up, forming a formidable pairing. For at least the PPA Atlanta Championships, Catherine Parenteau is partnering with Rachel Rohrabacher. These two new top-seeded teams, Parenteau/Rohrabacher (#1 seed) and Bright/Waters (#2 seed), are positioned to potentially face off in a highly anticipated final match. In mixed doubles, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns will be looking for revenge against Jorja and JW Johnson after their loss in North Carolina.
A significant on-court factor at this specific event is the introduction of a new ball, the LifeTime ball ("LT Pickleball"), which is being used for the first time in a professional PPA event because the tournament is held at a Life Time facility. Multiple sources have described this ball as playing "really fast," comparing its speed to the Dura Fast 40 when combined with Gen4 paddle technology. This fast ball could significantly impact gameplay, favouring players with quick reflexes and potentially altering strategic approaches. However, consistently high humidity levels in Atlanta, forecast in the 70%-80% range throughout the tournament, might serve to counteract some of the ball's speed and influence play.
Other notable stories include Jack Sock's withdrawal due to an ankle injury, removing a recognizable star from the singles and doubles draws. The tournament also features intense competition across all brackets with other strong players and interesting pairings.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The PPA Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships is poised to be a pivotal event in the professional pickleball season. As a Slam tournament, the points at stake are significant, adding an extra layer of pressure to the competition. The potential for Anna Leigh Waters to reach 150 PPA gold medals is a major historical highlight and speaks volumes about her unparalleled dominance in the sport.
Beyond individual milestones, the event is a debut stage for highly anticipated new partnerships, particularly in women's doubles. The potential clash between the Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau/Rachel Rohrabacher pairings represents a fresh rivalry born from recent changes and is a must-watch storyline. This shake-up promises to bring new dynamics to the top of the women's game.
Furthermore, the introduction of the fast LifeTime ball adds an element of unpredictability. Players will need to quickly adapt to the ball's characteristics, which could favour certain play styles or lead to unexpected results, especially when combined with the challenging humidity. This tournament is not just a test of skill but also of adaptability. Overall, PPA Atlanta combines compelling personal quests, evolving partnerships, and novel playing conditions, making it a crucial and exciting stop on the PPA Tour.