World No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters set for Philippine visit

TOP-RANKED. World pickleball No. 1 athlete Anna Leigh Waters heads to Manila.

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Anna Leigh Waters, the 19-year-old American ranked No. 1 in world pickleball, looks to showcase her wares in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The world’s top pickleball player is coming to the Philippines.

Anna Leigh Waters, the world No. 1 in women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles according to the Professional Pickleball Association, will come to Manila as part of the Franklin Pickleball Asia Showcase in October.

The appearance is part of Waters’ Southeast Asian tour, which will also include stops in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. More details will be announced soon, according to the organizers.

Waters has already made history off the court as she became the first professional pickleball player to sign a multi-year deal with Nike. She also has a long-term equipment partnership with Franklin Sports.

The 19-year-old American was named to the TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports and has become one of the most recognizable faces of pickleball’s rise into the mainstream.

Waters has accumulated nearly 200 career gold medals and more than 40 triple crowns across the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, where she competes as a member of the New Jersey 5s.

She turned professional at just 12 years old, becoming the youngest professional pickleball player in history.

Waters has also expanded her international presence, signing as a global sports ambassador for wellness brand IAM Worldwide.

Her upcoming visit comes as pickleball continues to surge in popularity in the Philippines, with new courts being built in parks, business districts, and other recreational spaces across the country. – Rappler.com