What’s the Score?
Lakeland, USA – The PPA Tour’s Veolia Lakeland Open, presented by Six Zero, culminated in a spectacular Championship Sunday marked by historic achievements, dramatic comebacks, and breakthrough victories. Anna Leigh Waters solidified her status as the sport’s most dominant force by securing the Women’s Singles title and her fourth straight Triple Crown, bringing her career total to 39. Meanwhile, Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio reclaimed the Men’s Doubles gold, and Roscoe Bellamy captured his first career PPA Tour title in Men’s Singles following a highly controversial match point.
Hit it deeper!
Anna Leigh Waters was the clear star of the weekend, demonstrating absolute dominance in Women’s Singles with an 11-3, 11-1 victory over No. 8 seed Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang. Wang had earned her spot in the final after overcoming a massive scare in the semifinals, rallying from a 0-7 deficit in the first game against No. 5 seed Lea Jansen to win 12-10, 11-2. Waters expressed pride in achieving four consecutive Triple Crowns since the 2023-2024 season, noting that it proves she is still improving even as the fields deepen every week.
The day began with Waters and Ben Johns battling No. 2 seeds Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in a thrilling mixed doubles final. The top seeds eventually prevailed in a five-game epic (10-12, 11-4, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7), securing their ninth straight title together. Waters highlighted the strategic necessity of switching tactics in the final game, stating, “I just had to really grind and dink forever,” despite personally hating the style, emphasising that she will do whatever it takes to win.
In Women’s Doubles, Waters, paired with Anna Bright, earned revenge for a previous defeat, sweeping the Kawamoto sisters, Jackie and Jade, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3. Waters credited their prior loss to the Kawamotos in Cincinnati for pushing their partnership to train harder, allowing them to showcase their improved work and versatility. The Kawamotos had reached the final after a gruelling back-and-forth quarterfinal, defeating Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher in a match characterized by significant momentum swings, including overcoming a 10-1 lead by the sisters in Game 1.
The Men’s Doubles final saw Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio return to winning form after their six-title streak was broken earlier this month at Worlds. The top seeds defeated No. 2 seeds Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu 11-8, 11-8, 11-5, securing their ninth title of the year. This was Johns’ final PPA Tour match of 2025 before a planned seven-week break. Johns praised his partnership with Tardio as “phenomenal”. Alshon/Daescu had earned their spot in the final through perhaps the most dramatic match of the tournament, defeating JW Johnson/CJ Klinger in a three-game epic that saw them rally from an 8-0 deficit in Game 2 and score seventeen consecutive points across Games 2 and 3.
The biggest surprise belonged to Men’s Singles winner, No. 11 seed Roscoe Bellamy, who claimed his first PPA Tour gold medal by defeating No. 2 seed Hunter Johnson (11-9, 5-11, 11-3). The match reached a controversial conclusion when Bellamy was awarded match point (10-3) via a point penalty against Johnson. This stemmed from Johnson unsuccessfully appealing to the head referee a net cord ruling, which counted as a second technical warning. Bellamy expressed deep gratitude for the win and acknowledged the irony that two of his strongest supporters throughout his career are Hunter and Yates Johnson, stating they are like a “second family” to him.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Veolia Lakeland Open served as a definitive statement on the current hierarchy of professional pickleball, proving that while the field is rapidly deepening, the elite tier remains incredibly difficult to penetrate. Waters’ continued ability to secure four consecutive Triple Crowns under increasing pressure highlights a level of sustained excellence unmatched in the sport. The dramatic Men’s Doubles semifinal, coupled with Bellamy’s controversy-tinged singles win, underscores that high-stakes pickleball is increasingly defined not just by athletic prowess but also by mental fortitude and managing the intense pressures of high-level competition and instantaneous rule calls. For the top players like Johns, wrapping up the year with a win and celebrating a “phenomenal” new partnership provides momentum heading into his planned break and the 2026 season. The tournament successfully blended expected victories with raw, unforgettable competitive moments that define the PPA Tour’s escalating drama.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.