Atlanta semi-finals set as Waters stays in control and Huang line-call controversy grows

The Veolia Atlanta Championships have reached the semi-final stage, with Anna Leigh Waters, Connor Garnett and several leading doubles pairings still in control, though not every bracket has settled cleanly.

Anna Leigh Waters remains the clearest form player across the Atlanta draws
Connor Garnett, Tama Shimabukuro and Hunter Johnson are among the key men’s singles names still alive
The doubles brackets remain competitive, with several leading pairings still needing to confirm their control

Atlanta narrows, but not evenly

Anna Leigh Waters has moved through Atlanta without serious disruption, and the rest of the draw is now trying to catch up.

The PPA Tour event has reached the semi-final stage, but the five pro brackets have not arrived there in the same shape.

Some have clear leaders. Others still feel open enough to move.

Garnett stands out in men’s singles

In men’s singles, Connor Garnett has progressed cleanly through his section, rarely allowing matches to drift away from him.

The lower half has carried more uncertainty. Tama Shimabukuro and Hunter Johnson have both advanced, but their route has felt less settled than Garnett’s.

That leaves the men’s semi-final picture with a clear contrast: one player looking composed, and another side of the draw still capable of producing a shift.

If you’re following how the global game is shifting week by week, the World Pickleball Report breaks this down every Wednesday.

Waters keeps women’s singles on script

Women’s singles has been more straightforward.

Waters has not been seriously pushed, while Kate Fahey and Kaitlyn Christian have done enough to keep pressure on the bracket.

The question is no longer whether Waters belongs as the favourite. It is whether anyone can make her uncomfortable before the title match is decided.

Line-call controversy adds another layer

The women’s singles draw also picked up a separate talking point after Albie Huang used social media to question several line calls made during her round-of-32 match against Lea Jansen.

The sequence was later broken down by Nico the Lefty on Instagram, with replay clips appearing to show multiple balls landing close to the same corner of the court before being called out. The discussion quickly moved beyond one match and into a wider debate about player-made line calls, referee positioning and whether fines should follow when disputed calls are later shown to be incorrect.

There has been no official confirmation of any sanction, and the calls should still be described carefully as controversial rather than intentional. But the reaction matters because it has put officiating back into the centre of the Atlanta conversation.

Doubles brackets still have movement

The doubles draws are less clean.

In men’s doubles, Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio remain central to the title picture, but the bracket has not been short of resistance. Several teams have had to work through pressure rather than simply hold position.

Women’s doubles has been more predictable, with Waters and Anna Bright still setting the standard. The chasing pairs remain close enough to matter, but they now need more than steady progression.

Mixed doubles sits somewhere in between. The leading pairings are still in place, but the bracket has enough quality left to make the semi-finals more than a formality.

Why it matters

By this stage, most tournaments have settled.

Atlanta still has matches that can move.

The names are starting to settle. The matches are not.

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