A Grand Weekend of Pickleball Glory in Southern California

There are weekends that redefine the sport rulebook. And other weekends like last weekend in San Clemente when something even more remarkable happened. Under a blue Californian sky and swaying palms, thousands of individuals flocked to Life Time Rancho San Clemente to bear witness to history in the making.

The Carvana PPA Tour's Select Medical Orange County Cup did not fall short and then some. But it was Anna Leigh Waters who turned this tournament into legend.

The Rise of a Pickleball Icon

At just 18 years old and already chiseled in the granite of greatness, Anna Leigh Waters went to San Clemente to play, not just compete. Over the course of the weekend, it was clear that fans weren't just watching a match. They were watching history in the making.

With poise, resolve, and an unyielding aura of class, Waters clinched her 50th career women's doubles title. That in itself would have been history. But that was only the beginning. With the win, Waters officially became part of what fans are calling the Triple 50 club 50 titles in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. No other player in the sport has reached that milestone.

And to consider that she's only just begun.

A Tribute to Strength and Sportsmanship

Anna's weekend wins were not only marked by dominant smashes and rapid feet but by humility and sincere appreciation. In winning over her former partner Catherine Parenteau and comer Rachel Rohrabacher in the women's doubles final, Waters did not gloat over stats and titles. She instead decided to thank those individuals who made this happen.

"I could not have done it without my partners," she stated following the match. "This is all of us. It is not about me out here."

The same energy extended to the mixed doubles final, where she teamed up once more with her long-time partner Ben Johns. They added another jewel to their already sparkling trophy collection, capturing their 50th mixed doubles title together. Their on-court chemistry is not to be ignored. Their legacy is not to be ignored either.

The Match That Had Fans Holding Their Breath

In perhaps the most eagerly anticipated game of the weekend, Waters and Johns battled against sibling pair JW and Jorja Johnson. It was something more than a battle of technique it was an artistry exhibition.

Johns complimented their opponents with the respect of a sportsman, praising Jorja for her lightning-fast reflexes and JW for his tactical brain. "It's chess in the kitchen," he noted. "Every shot is important."

The final scores said it in volumes 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 but the crowd's energy said the real story. Gasps, cheers, and standing ovations dominated the hall as every rally was a symphony of skill.

A Community United for the Sake of the Game

It wasn't the historic victories or the high stakes that made the Orange County Cup so special. It was the collective joy. Whether you'd been coming for years or were a newcomer, everyone was part of something greater than themselves.

The tournament became a tapestry of whites and sun hats, gourmet food stalls, and artisanal pop-ups. Laughter erupted across the shaded lounges as glasses of cold rosé clinked in celebration of yet another amazing match.

It's a way of life here in San Clemente. Pickleball is not just a sport.

The Activities That Defined the Weekend

While Waters deservedly stole the spotlight, others were not lacking in brilliance at the weekend:

Men's Doubles: Ben Johns and Andrei Daescu defeated Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez in a five-game thriller that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Women's Singles: Waters won another gold in a quick win over Parenteau.

Men's Singles: JW Johnson showed his class in sweeping aside Federico Staksrud in two commanding games.

The entire roster of results serves only to highlight the sheer breadth of talent now present in professional pickleball.

A Glimpse into the Future Conflict

With the Orange County Cup deposited safely into the PPA books of history, the fans' gaze turns to the horizon. The Veolia Bristol Open in Tennessee, August 6 to 10, is next on the tour. Waters, Johns, and other stars like Tyson McGuffin, Genie Bouchard, and Jack Sock will all once again have their places in the limelight.

For fans who want front-row seats to every serve, volley, and point, Pickleballtv will have it all live. San Clemente, if anything, was indicative of the fact that the Bristol Open will be nothing but electrifying.

Why It Matters to Luxury Lifestyle Readers At Fine Homes and Living, we believe that excellence is not a coincidence. A flawlessly designed wine cellar or an international-caliber sporting event is all about passion, precision, and performance. Pickleball, a fringe activity, is now a sport of the elite enjoyed by country clubs, high-end resorts, and progressive families nationwide. Pickleball provides more than diversion. It provides community. It provides connection. And if Anna Leigh Waters is anything to go by, it also provides the excitement of greatness being seen live.

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