An American pickleball professional recently declared that Andre Agassi‘s World No. 1 pickleball partner, 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, surpasses Serena Williams at the peak of her tennis career in terms of athletic dominance. This bold claim highlights the exceptional talent and rapid rise of Waters within the pickleball community.
Earlier this year, Andre Agassi announced his professional pickleball debut at the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, partnering in the mixed doubles category. Although Agassi, at 55, is beyond his athletic prime, his collaboration with Waters, a prodigy in the sport, provides a significant advantage.
Anna Leigh Waters’ Exceptional Track Record in Pickleball
Waters holds the No. 1 ranking in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles pickleball and is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest talents despite her young age. She boasts 54 singles medals, 65 doubles medals, and 57 mixed doubles medals, reflecting her consistent dominance. Zane Navratil, another leading American pickleball player, expressed his opinion that Waters’ impact in the sport eclipses even Serena Williams’ peak performance in tennis.
“First, it’s a ridiculous comparison, but it’s a comparison nonetheless, and I feel compelled to clarify that, in the smaller pond of pickleball, Anna Leigh Waters is a bigger fish than Serena Williams was at her peak — and it’s not close,” Navratil wrote. —Zane Navratil, American Pickleball Professional
Navratil acknowledged Serena Williams’ remarkable career but emphasized Waters’ unmatched dominance in pickleball. He illustrated his viewpoint by comparing the athletes’ peak years and winning percentages.
“If you disagree, let me ask you this: Your life’s on the line, and you must choose either Serena Williams to win a tennis match in 2013 (her best year, when she went 78–4 and won 11 of 13 tournaments) or Anna Leigh Waters to win a pickleball match in 2024 (when she won 12 of 13 singles tournaments, 14 of 17 women’s doubles, and 16 of 17 mixed doubles).”
“Who do you choose? If you’re a rational human being who loves life, you choose Anna Leigh Waters without hesitation, thus settling a debate nobody asked for,” he concluded.
Andre Agassi Praises Waters’ Competitive Spirit
After teaming up with Waters, Andre Agassi shared insights about their partnership and praised her drive and work ethic. Noting Waters’ hunger for new challenges, Agassi explained that she was eager to test herself beyond her current achievements.
“It was very apparent that Anna Leigh was very tired of winning. She wanted to add a little spice to her life and make it quite the difficult challenge,” Agassi said.
Agassi also recognized Waters as one of the greatest athletes in pickleball, expressing his determination to match her level without letting her down. On this, he recalled the encouragement he received from Waters herself.
“She’s right up there with the greatest ever in what she does and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting.”
Early Success and Setbacks in Their Campaign
The new duo made a strong impression in their initial matches, defeating the young team of 13-year-old Stevie Petropouleas and 16-year-old Tristan Dussault. Despite their promising start, Agassi and Waters were ultimately eliminated by the team of Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang, ending their run in the competition.
The Road Ahead for an Emerging Pickleball Powerhouse
The partnership between Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters captures significant attention in the pickleball world, combining Agassi’s legendary status with Waters’ extraordinary talent and youthful energy. This pairing is expected to influence the sport’s growth and inspire interest ahead of the 2025 US Open Pickleball Championships.
As Waters continues to break records and Agassi adapts to the sport, their collaboration may redefine competitive pickleball and raise the profile of the game globally.