Anna Leigh Waters Hits 200th PPA Title With Ben Johns in Chicago
The 19-year-old world No. 1 adds another milestone with mixed-doubles partner Ben Johns, as media and pickleball events play out from China to India.
Anna Leigh Waters Reaches 200 PPA Titles
Anna Leigh Waters, 19, won the mixed doubles final with Ben Johns at the 2026 PPA Veolia Chicago Cup, giving her 200 career PPA Tour titles. She is the world No. 1 in women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.
Her mother Leigh, a former world No. 1 player, was Anna's doubles partner before becoming her full-time coach after an ACL injury, and Anna credits her for keeping her grounded off the court. Anna turned pro at 12, the youngest in the sport's history, and was named to the TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports list this year.
Waters was in Manila in October for the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase, with stops in Malaysia and Hong Kong still ahead, and she is set to return to Manila on December 9 for the IAM Worldwide Pickleball Showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Media Players Battle It Out in Hengshui
The third National News Media Pickleball Invitational concluded in Hengshui, drawing more than 60 players from dozens of media outlets who played doubles across 80 matches over two days.
Cao Yiming and Yao Fei won the championship, with Zhang Wei and Bi Ran finishing second and Gao Xingwu and Tian Ye taking third.
Louisville Prepares for APP Open
The Humana APP Louisville Open runs from October 15 through October 18.
Igeta Finishes Fourth in Bracket of 64
Hiroe Igeta and her partner placed fourth out of 64 teams in a pickleball bracket, with Igeta calling the day "fun, exhausting, and happy." Fans online praised her as "a white lily blooming on the court."
Coimbatore Crowns Two Champions
At the CaP's Pickleball Championship 2.0 in Coimbatore, India, a PWR 200 event sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association, Saran beat Diya 15-10 to win the open singles beginner title.
In open men's doubles, Kannan and Vishnu beat Arun Prasanth and Sanjay Raja 15-11 to take the title.
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