Anna Leigh Waters Dominates as Pickleball World Championships Ignite
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🏆 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships: Upsets, Records, and High Drama Set Championship Sunday Stage
Farmers Branch, Texas, USA – The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships at Brookhaven Country Club culminated in a Semifinal Saturday filled with massive upsets, historic achievements, and dramatic three-game thrillers, setting the table for an explosive Championship Sunday.
In a stunning men's doubles showdown, the third-seeded duo of Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin dismantled the top-ranked pairing of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio, winning in straight games (11-8, 11-5). This victory dramatically ended Johns and Tardio’s six-consecutive tournament-winning streak. An emotional Staksrud, shedding tears post-match, shared that the win was monumental after a "tough year in doubles," noting their intense effort and desire to avoid playing for bronze again. Staksrud/Patriquin will face the fourth seeds, CJ Klinger and JW Johnson, who secured their spot by claiming a swift 11-2, 11-4 victory over Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu.
World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters dominated the women's events despite facing significant adversity. In women’s singles, Waters overcame Kaitlyn Christian in a three-game epic (9-11, 11-2, 11-6). The first game was marred by controversy when a technical foul resulted in a point penalty against Waters, which cost her the game when Christian was at ten points. Waters, visibly upset, still managed to reset and complete the comeback, booking her spot against No. 2 seed Kate Fahey.
Waters is on the hunt for her 38th PPA Tour Triple Crown. Heading into Sunday, she was close to surpassing Ben Johns for the most PPA Tour titles overall, though other sources confirm the 18-year-old superstar surpassed Johns to become the winningest PPA Tour player with 168 career gold medals.
In doubles action, Waters and Anna Bright avenged a previous August loss by defeating Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black 11-9, 11-2 in the women's doubles semifinal. They advance to face Parris Todd and Catherine Parenteau. Waters also successfully partnered with Ben Johns in mixed doubles, triumphing over Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin in three games (11-6, 12-14, 11-5). Waters/Johns will meet the sibling duo Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in the mixed doubles final, marking their sixth Championship Sunday meeting of the year.
🇪🇸 Mijas Open Finals Set: De Rueda Battles for Three Golds as Mendez and Pintor Become Partners and Rivals
Mijas, Spain – The Mijas Open 2025 has finalised its Championship Sunday lineup after a thrilling Saturday of semifinal matches at the Gran Parque de Mijas. Ignasi de Rueda secured an impressive "hat-trick" of final appearances and will compete for three gold medals—a significant challenge for the Spanish star.
In men's singles, Ignasi de Rueda reached his first individual final, defeating José Enrique de La Torre (21-18, 21-18). De Rueda, who will be playing in his seventh Pickle Pro Tour final, faces Alexander Serrano, who secured his second final appearance after a tough win over Daulet Dzhumaev (21-18, 22-21).
The women’s singles final pits Sabrina Mendez against Maria Pintor. Mendez, known as the "woman of the finals," beat Paula Levitskiy (21-12, 21-5), earning her eighth final appearance. Pintor won her hard-fought match against American Amanda Rosati (21-19, 21-17) and is seeking her first circuit title in her third final.
The two singles finalists, Mendez and Pintor, will also be competing together in the women’s doubles final. They advanced after defeating Ana García and Ellie Tomkinspon (21-14, 21-7). They will face local favourite María Costantino and Eleana Rodino, who won a tight semifinal against Rocío Cardo and Paula Levitskiy (22-21, and an implied win in the second game). Costantino is looking to repeat her gold medal performance from the Barcelona Open 2025.
De Rueda’s quest for multiple titles continues in men’s doubles, where he and Joshua Bright triumphed over Pep Canyadell and Carlos Pérez (21-18, 21-17). They will face the formidable duo of Jesús García and David Illescas, who are making their fourth doubles final appearance of the season after beating Daniel Vega and Pedro Cámara (21-14, 21-19).
Finally, the mixed doubles crown will be contested by Pep Canyadell/María Costantino and Eleana Rodino/Ignasi de Rueda. Costantino is playing in both doubles finals. De Rueda and Rodino, who defeated Sara Chumillas and David Illescas (11-21, 15-21) using an aggressive strategy and solid defence, are seeking their third final win together, aiming to make up for a silver finish in Barcelona.
🇮🇹 Historic Silver: Independent Senior Team Puts Italian Pickleball on the World Map
Miami, Florida, USA – Italian pickleball celebrated a major milestone at the Pickleball World Cup 2025, held from October 27 to November 2, where the Team Indipendente Senior secured a historic silver medal.
The World Cup, which brought together delegations from 68 countries and featured over 3,000 athletes, saw the Italian Senior team finish only behind the United States. This remarkable achievement validates the significant growth and competitiveness Italian pickleball has achieved in recent years.
Notably, the silver-winning squad—comprised of Rinaldo Rossi, Augusto Avanzini, Federica Mundula, and Paola Tampieri—was an independent initiative. It was promoted by several key Italian pickleball organisations, including Pickle&Co, Roma Pickleball, Standout Pickleball, and ZZ Sports. Their impeccable performance culminated in the world final, establishing Italy among the emerging powers in international pickleball.
In contrast, the Official Open Team, promoted by the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), faced a high-level technical draw and saw its journey end in the round of 16. Despite the early exit for the Open team of Davide Vendrame, Luc Gale Grani, Stephanie Scimone, and Eleana Rodino, their participation marked a critical official entry into a major world competition under a recognised federal project. The overall success signals a strong future for the sport in Italy, emphasising the goal to promote and value pickleball as an accessible and competitive global sport.
🐐 Agassi: Betting Against Anna Leigh Waters is at Your Own Peril, Previews $1M Pickleball Slam 4
Farmers Branch, Texas, USA – Tennis legend and global pickleball ambassador Andre Agassi offered high praise for World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters on Saturday while attending the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships.
During an appearance on Pickleballtv, the eight-time Grand Slam champion was unequivocal about Waters' talent, stating with little hesitation, "Oh my gosh, bet against Anna Leigh at your own peril". Agassi praised her dedication, noting the "professionalism that she's brought to enhancing her game is absolutely remarkable". He highlighted her exceptional technique, saying, "Watching her ball control is like a joke," and found her court coverage impressive given her size. Agassi even confessed that watching Waters makes him wish he had started playing pickleball twenty years ago.
Agassi's familiarity with Waters is first-hand, as they competed together in mixed doubles earlier this year at the US Open Pickleball Championships. However, they will soon be opponents in the highly anticipated Pickleball Slam 4, scheduled for April 2026 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.
The event will feature a gender doubles showdown for a $1 million prize purse, with Waters and tennis star Genie Bouchard facing Agassi and fellow tennis legend James Blake. Agassi, acknowledging Waters as "like the GOAT," stated that his team "may get toyed with," but emphasised that he views the event primarily as a "celebration of pickleball" rather than a "battle of the sexes".
🦘 Pickleball Australia Unveils New Look, Commits to Bold National Vision
Australia – Pickleball Australia (PA), the peak national body overseeing the nation’s fastest-growing sport, has launched a refreshed brand identity to support a bold vision for the future.
In the five years since its 2020 inception, PA has grown significantly, now overseeing seven state associations, supporting over 96,000 regular players, and engaging 23,000 registered members nationwide. This evolution, guided by values of integrity and professionalism, aims to cement pickleball’s place permanently in the Australian sporting landscape.
Executive Officer Brendan Lee stated that the updated brand reflects "the energy and edge of today’s players while staying true to our roots". The organisation is transitioning the sport from a purely volunteer-led, grassroots approach to a dynamic, nationally unified movement. PA is central to the sport's governance, managing relationships with 367 affiliates, sanctioning 96 tournaments, and developing talent through mentoring 80 coach members and training 334 referees.
The new visual identity was developed by brand strategy agency, The Contenders. Creative Director Em Fitts explained that the goal was to resolve the "duality of the sport"—from casual backyard play to high-stakes national championships—by capturing its "joyful rebellion and spirit of play".
PA’s strategic plan focuses on five key development areas: introducing communities to pickleball, promoting skill development and a healthy lifestyle, facilitating recreational and competitive play, and developing high-performance athletes. Lee concluded that with the strong new brand positioning, PA is "incredibly well positioned to continue driving the sport forward whilst celebrating its spirit and energy".
🏗️ From Rockets to Racquets: Elon Musk’s Boring Company Opens $1 Pickleball Court in Texas
Bastrop County, Texas, USA – Entrepreneur Elon Musk, who once predicted that pickleball would “probably crush tennis” due to its convenience, is now personally betting on the sport’s popularity. His Boring Company has unveiled Hyperloop Plaza near SpaceX headquarters in Bastrop County, Texas.
The new community hub features a bodega, coffee shop, and dedicated pickleball courts available for rent at the highly accessible price of just $1 per hour. This venture reflects Musk’s eagerness to carve out a niche in the booming “picklesphere,” venturing beyond his usual focus on futuristic ideas like rockets and electric cars.
However, early reviews suggest the execution may not yet match the futuristic concept. When PPA Tour representatives visited the site, they reported that the setup felt "incomplete". They described the court itself as "just a concrete pad with iffy painted lines," and noted that the overall facility, which houses a barber shop and gaming area inside a large warehouse, was "empty" and "lacking character". The plaza is also situated approximately 45 minutes outside Austin, making it "far away from everything".
While the $1 court may currently serve more as a curiosity than a prime pickleball destination, the project demonstrates Musk's commitment to experimenting with the sport. Visitors and enthusiasts anticipate that, in true Musk fashion, this basic setup may evolve into something much larger in the future.
💡 Superstar Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Franchise Hosts Free Pickleball Camp for 250 Students in Chennai
Chennai, India – In a significant move toward democratizing access to emerging international sports, the Chennai Super Champs, the city’s World Pickleball League franchise, hosted a free coaching camp for 250 government school students.
The initiative was driven by the franchise owner, acclaimed actor-entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who continues to demonstrate her commitment to grassroots sports development. The camp was held at the newly inaugurated indoor courts at Sathyabama University, providing students with high-quality infrastructure for the rapidly growing sport.
The program, focusing specifically on government school students who often have limited exposure to organised sports, provided comprehensive training. Certified coaches from the AIPA (All India Pickleball Association) and APTSU (Amateur Pickleball Tamil Nadu Sports Unit) led sessions covering basic skills, drills, and match play, ensuring professional standards.
The camp’s timing is strategic, serving as a prelude to the franchise's flagship event, the inaugural Chennai Open, scheduled to begin November 13. This timing is expected to inspire long-term participation by allowing the students to witness professional pickleball in action.
The Chennai Super Champs plan to host more camps across Chennai in the coming weeks, aiming to build a sustainable grassroots program and create a pipeline of young athletes. This community engagement model leverages the professional sports franchise’s visibility to foster sports culture, proving that world-class training can be accessible regardless of economic background.