Anna Leigh Waters Secures Triple Crown With Gritty Win Over Kate Fahey
Source: Pickleball.com
Anna Leigh Waters once again asserted her dominance on the PPA Tour, clinching her 34th Triple Crown with a hard-earned victory over No. 2 seed Kate Fahey in the women’s singles final at the Life Time Peachtree Corners. Waters battled her way to an 11-1, 7-11, 11-1 win, overcoming a spirited challenge from Fahey to secure yet another gold.
The top seed appeared poised to seal the win in straight games after establishing a 7-5 lead in the second. However, Fahey rallied with a six-point surge, snatching the second game to become the first player to take a game off Waters in their last eight meetings.
Despite the setback, Waters regrouped quickly, delivering a commanding third-game performance to close out the match in emphatic fashion. With the victory, she also notched her 150th career PPA title, further solidifying her status as the most formidable player on the women’s tour.
Fired Up After North Carolina
For Waters, the win in Georgia carried a deeper significance. Just weeks ago, she suffered two Championship Sunday losses in North Carolina, a rare dip in form for the typically unstoppable 17-year-old.
“I was definitely fired up after North Carolina,” Waters acknowledged. “I didn’t think that was my best performance, so I wanted to come out here and prove—not to everybody else, but to myself—that I still had it in me and that I could still fight.”
That fighting spirit was on full display as Waters powered through her singles draw, dropping only one game all week. In addition to her singles title, she also claimed women’s doubles gold alongside Anna Bright, further cementing her position as the tour’s most prolific title-winner.
Fahey’s Breakthrough Performance
Despite the loss, Kate Fahey’s effort was noteworthy. The No. 2 seed delivered one of her strongest performances against Waters, managing to take a game off the top seed for the first time in their last eight encounters.
“It stinks to lose, but I’m definitely trying to see the bigger picture,” Fahey shared. “This is the first time I’ve taken a game, so I’m definitely proud of myself. There are several little wins that I’m taking from this match.”
Fahey’s performance in Atlanta underscores her steady rise in the women’s singles division, signaling that she could be a serious contender as the PPA season progresses.
Bronze Medal Showdown
In the bronze medal match, Parris Todd, the No. 4 seed, faced off against No. 7 seed Catherine Parenteau. Todd dropped the first game 9-11 but stormed back with decisive 11-1 and 11-4 victories to secure her spot on the podium.
Todd’s resilience in the bronze medal match capped off a strong week for the veteran player, whose tenacity and tactical adjustments kept Parenteau at bay in the latter stages of the contest.
What’s Next For Waters?
With her 34th Triple Crown secured and her 150th PPA title now in the books, Anna Leigh Waters continues to redefine excellence on the women’s tour. But as Fahey’s breakthrough game win demonstrated, the competition is steadily closing the gap.
Will Waters maintain her grip on the top spot, or will rising challengers like Fahey and Todd continue to push her to the limit? As the PPA season heats up, all eyes will be on the reigning queen of pickleball to see how she responds to the growing pressure.
