🏓 Heartbreak on the Court: Pickleball Pro Anna Leigh Waters Suffers Career-Threatening Injury Weeks Before Championship
In a devastating turn for the pickleball world, 17-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters, the reigning queen of the court and world No. 1 in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, has suffered a serious knee injury during a training session in Florida, just weeks before the much-anticipated 2025 U.S. Pickleball Championships.
Eyewitnesses say Waters collapsed mid-rally, clutching her right knee in agony. Her mother and doubles partner, Leigh Waters, was by her side within seconds, her face etched with panic and heartbreak.
The injury is suspected to be a torn ACL—though official confirmation is pending—potentially sidelining Waters for the remainder of the 2025 season. The timing couldn’t be worse: she was set to defend multiple titles and was expected to clinch her 30th career triple crown this summer.
“I’ve never seen her cry like that,” a coach at the facility shared. “This wasn’t just physical pain. This was the pain of watching a dream pause mid-flight.”
Waters, who turned pro at just 12, has become the face of pickleball—bringing a new generation of fans to the sport with her explosive speed, fearless net play, and unmatched consistency. Just last month, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the future of American racquet sports.
In a tearful Instagram video from her hospital bed, Waters said:
“I don’t know what happens next, but I know I’m not done. Not even close. Pickleball is my heart, and I’ll fight to get back on the court where I belong.”
Fans, fellow players, and athletes from other sports flooded social media with support, with tennis legend Serena Williams commenting, “You’re a warrior, Anna Leigh. This is just a chapter, not your story.”
Whether this marks the end of a season or the beginning of a comeback for the ages, one thing is certain: pickleball won’t be the same without Anna Leigh Waters—and the world will be watching, waiting for her tr
iumphant return.
