Anna Leigh Waters On Building Mental Resilience In Pickleball

In pickleball, elite athleticism often gets the spotlight—but it's the mental game that truly separates the great from the good. And no one embodies that balance better than World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters.

Known not only for her court dominance but also for her poise under pressure, Anna Leigh recently opened up about her mental approach during key moments of high-stakes matches. In a recent session with pro player and content creator Kyle Koszuta, Anna Leigh and her mother and doubles partner, Leigh Waters, shared how they handle the psychological rollercoaster of professional play.

Their insights offer a valuable look into what it takes to stay mentally tough at the top—and how everyday players can apply those lessons at any level.

Source: Pickleball Portal

Mental Toughness In The Clutch

Koszuta recalled a tense moment from the Zimmer Biomet Masters, when Anna Leigh and Ben Johns were trailing 4–10 against Tyra “Hurricane” Black and Christian Alshon. Match point loomed. Anna Leigh called a timeout.

What happened next wasn’t a heroic comeback fueled by wild risk-taking—but a shift in mental strategy.

“When they came back in after the timeout, the game became less about being aggressive and more about lowering the risk on their shots,” Leigh Waters explained. “Ben is hitting the ball hard, but he’s not going for winners—he’s going for placement and spin, because you cannot afford to lose those points.”

Leigh called it “controlled aggression”—a tactical mindset rooted in smart decision-making, not emotion.

Anna Leigh added: “The main thing is belief that you can come back from that.”

Confidence In The Conversation

Another example came from the Select Medical Orange County Cup. Once again, Anna Leigh and Ben found themselves down 4–10, this time against JW and Jorja Johnson. And once again, Anna Leigh turned to a timeout—not to panic, but to regroup.

She walked straight to the sideline and said to her mom, “Alright mom, what do we do? I’m not losing this match.”

Leigh Waters reflected on that moment with admiration: “A lot of people would come over to the bench totally dejected, but Anna Leigh came over energized and focused. It’s amazing what the brain can do for you, because the minute your brain thinks, ‘I can’t do it,’ your body literally can’t do it.”

That mindset—refusing to accept defeat before the last point—is the foundation of her success. And according to Anna Leigh, it’s not just about belief; it’s also about the language you use with yourself.

Self-Talk That Works

Anna Leigh is known for being vocal on the court, often hyping herself up with phrases like “Come on!” and “Fight!” These aren’t just motivational outbursts—they’re carefully practiced habits meant to reinforce her mental strength.

“Whatever you tell yourself out loud or in your head means so much,” she said. “Even when I miss a shot, I don’t beat myself up. I tell myself, ‘That was the right idea.’”

It’s a subtle shift in narrative, but one that keeps confidence intact. Instead of spiraling after an error, Anna Leigh reframes it—and resets immediately.

She also admits that staying positive isn’t always easy. Like any player, she occasionally gets frustrated.

“Sometimes I’ll miss a shot and I’ll get so upset with myself, and that’s why I started yelling things,” she shared. “I yell and I can get that feeling out of my system. And then I reset.”

According to her mental coach, it’s not about never getting emotional—it’s about processing emotion quickly and returning to a focused state.

“It’s okay to go crazy for a second after you miss a shot,” Anna Leigh said, “as long as you get back to being yourself right after that.”

The Takeaway: Stay Composed, Stay Positive

Mental resilience isn’t about pretending mistakes don’t matter—it’s about staying emotionally neutral enough to move past them. Anna Leigh Waters’ approach to the mental game is both practical and inspiring: build belief, use self-talk as a tool, and allow emotions to flow without letting them take over.

So next time you find yourself frustrated mid-match, take a cue from the World No. 1. Call a timeout, take a breath, and tell yourself something worth believing.

Because in pickleball, your mindset is just as important as your mechanics.