Saying that Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns made it difficult for Catherine Parenteau and Riley Newman on Championship Sunday would be an understatement.
The world’s top-ranked mixed doubles duo, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, dominated the Las Vegas Pickleball Cup final. They effortlessly dispatched the No. 6 seeds, Catherine Parenteau and Riley Newman, in a decisive 11-6, 11-0, 11-4 victory.
This marked Waters and Johns’ 11th season championship and their 38th career title together.
“I think we’re just experienced in playing together and we’ve been in most situations together in any given matchup or situation in tournaments, so even if we’re down, I feel like we have a shot at anything,” said Johns. “I always feel confident going in with Anna Leigh, so it was just another great tournament.”
Waters’ victory in the mixed doubles final added another layer of success to her already impressive weekend. Earlier in the day, she had clinched her 28th Triple Crown by winning gold in both women’s doubles and singles.
During her singles match against Kate Fahey, Waters had rolled her ankle. After the mixed doubles final, she was asked about her health status.
“It’s not great, to be honest. When you have adrenaline, you don’t really feel it, but when I get up right now, I’m kind of feeling it a little bit, so we’ll see. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious. I don’t think so,” said Waters. “I never twist my ankle, so I think I’m probably just being a little bit of a baby, too, because I’m not used to feeling this pain. I feel it in my knees and my glutes, but I never have ankle issues.”
