Waters Wins 150th PPA Title, Vietnam to Host 2025 Championship

Good morning, pickleballers!

What a weekend that has been - have you caught up on Saturday and Sunday's reports? Some great stuff from the PPA and CNPL in Canada.

As ever, you can listen to today's pickleball news in the Deep Dive below - but if you prefer the latest updates in written form, you are very much in luck.

First Title Together: Johnson and Klinger SHOCK Johns and Tardio in Atlanta Men's Doubles Sweep

Atlanta, Georgia – JW Johnson and CJ Klinger have claimed their first title together by defeating the No. 2 seeds Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio in the men’s doubles final at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. The unseeded pairing delivered a stunning straight-game sweep, with scores of 11-9, 11-9, and 11-7.

A crucial turning point occurred in Game 2 when Johns and Tardio held a seemingly comfortable 9-4 lead. However, Johnson and Klinger mounted a remarkable seven-point comeback on a single side out, ultimately securing the second game and a two-game advantage. They maintained their momentum with consistent, opportunistic play. CJ Klinger was noted for his high level of play, applying pressure at the kitchen line and showcasing top-tier hand speed. For Johnson and Klinger, this victory also served as a moment of revenge after falling to Johns and Tardio in the quarterfinals of the previous month's North Carolina Open. Ben Johns acknowledged his opponents' strong play and suggested his team's thirds could have been better.

Rare Emotion: Ben Johns Battles Through Three-Game Epic to Claim Atlanta Men's Singles Gold

Atlanta, Georgia – Ben Johns secured the men’s singles title at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships after a thrilling three-game epic against No. 3 seed Connor Garnett. Playing his third final of the day, Johns overcame an early deficit, ultimately winning with scores of 3-11, 11-9, 11-9. Garnett initially took control, including a 5-1 lead in the second game, but Johns rallied, forcing a slower, strategic pace.

After defending a shot to seal the victory, Johns let out a yell, displaying a rare degree of emotion. He attributed this reaction to exhaustion from the demanding match and the significant support from the crowd, stating, "A lot of people say that you can’t do it without the crowd, and this time it was really true". For Garnett, despite the loss, the match marked his first Championship Sunday appearance of 2025, a positive takeaway. In the bronze medal match, No. 2 seed Hunter Johnson defeated No. 8 seed Dylan Frazier 11-2, 11-7.

Historic Win: Anna Leigh Waters Claims 34th Triple Crown and 150th PPA Title with Atlanta Singles Gold

Atlanta, Georgia – Anna Leigh Waters secured the women's singles title at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, marking significant milestones in her career. She defeated No. 2 seed Kate Fahey in the final with scores of 11-1, 7-11, 11-1. This victory earned Waters her 34th career PPA Triple Crown.

Furthermore, the win also marked her 150th career PPA title. Waters reflected on her performance, noting she was "fired up" after not performing her best at the previous North Carolina tournament. Kate Fahey was notably the only player to take a game off Waters in any event throughout the week in Atlanta. Despite the loss, Fahey found positives in being the first to do so. In the women's singles bronze medal match, No. 4 seed Parris Todd defeated No. 7 seed Catherine Parenteau.

First Title Since 2023: Waters and Bright REUNITE to Dominate Atlanta Women's Doubles

Atlanta, Georgia – Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright have claimed the women’s doubles title at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, securing their first title together since 2023. In a highly anticipated match, the reunited duo defeated Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher in straight games with scores of 11-4, 11-7, and 11-3.

The contest was notable given the recent partnership changes, with Waters having split from Parenteau and Bright from Rohrabacher. On the court, Waters and Bright proved dominant, successfully speeding balls up through the middle and capitalising on their opponents' miscommunications. This victory marked a strong start for their renewed partnership. For Anna Leigh Waters, the win was also a significant step towards her 150th career PPA title. Rachel Rohrabacher commented on the positive experience of playing with Catherine Parenteau. In the women's doubles bronze medal match, Tyra Black and Parris Todd defeated Kate Fahey and Tina Pisnik.

Undefeated Run: Waters and Johns Smash Records, Dominate Mixed Doubles for Atlanta Gold

Atlanta, Georgia – Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns kicked off Championship Sunday at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships with a dominant performance, securing the mixed doubles title after an undefeated run through the tournament. The top seeds defeated No. 4 seeds Etta Tuionetoa and Christian Alshon in straight games, winning 11-3, 11-2, and 11-7.

Waters and Johns set the tone early, scoring nine points on their initial service possession in the first game. Their path to gold was marked by exceptional play, as they did not drop a single game across their six matches in Atlanta. This commanding victory was a significant response after they were defeated in the mixed doubles final at the previous Veolia North Carolina Open. With this title, Ben Johns also made history, earning gold in his 39th consecutive PPA tournament, surpassing the previous record of 38 set by Waters. Johns expressed happiness with their performance, stating, "I’m just super happy with the way we’ve been playing".

Sibling Success: Johnson Brother-Sister Duo Stuns Atlanta Crowd with Mixed Doubles Bronze Comeback

Atlanta, Georgia – The brother-sister pairing of JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson earned the bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. Competing in the Pro Main Draw event on Sunday, they secured third place by defeating Andrei Daescu and Tina Pisnik in straight games. The match took place as part of the PPA Tour stop in Atlanta.

The Johnsons successfully bounced back after missing out on the final. In the first game, they showcased quick reflexes and smart shot placement to win 11-8. Their teamwork sharpened in the second game, allowing them to control the pace and close out the match with an 11-5 victory.

This performance secured their spot on the podium, demonstrating a strong finish to their tournament in front of the Atlanta crowd. The siblings displayed calm and focus despite a tough tournament, leaving the court with smiles and a medal. JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson remain a strong team and top contenders on the PPA Tour.

Asian Pickleball Revolution: Vietnam Set to Host 2025 Semi-Professional Championship Across Three Cities

Hanoi, Vietnam – The 2025 Asian Semi-Professional Pickleball Championship is set to take place in Vietnam. Organised by Pickleball Champions League Asia (PCL Asia) and its official Vietnamese partner, SP3, the championship aims to be an important milestone for pickleball in Vietnam, which is considered one of the sport's hotbeds in Asia.

The tournament will run for four weeks, from June 7 to June 28, 2025, across three cities: Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. PCL Asia's vision is to revolutionise pickleball across the continent as the premier competitive platform, uniting top amateur club teams and significantly raising the sport's profile.

SP3, focused on building communities through sports, is leading the initiative to grow pickleball in Vietnam, offering opportunities for local teams to compete nationally. Champions from each group will qualify for the PCL – Vietnam finals in Ho Chi Minh City on July 12-13, 2025, with the Asian finals scheduled for Shenzhen, China, on August 9-10, 2025.