Anna Leigh Waters’ Undefeated Singles Streak: Will Brooke Buckner End It in 2026?
Last updated: September 30, 2026
Quick Answer: Anna Leigh Waters has gone 727 days without a singles loss in professional pickleball, winning 124 consecutive matches since May 2024. [1] Brooke Buckner is the most credible challenger heading into the second half of 2026, having pushed Waters to the limit at the Newport Beach Open, but Waters has yet to drop a tournament. [7][8] The streak is extraordinary, and still alive.
Key Takeaways
- Waters’ last singles loss came on May 30, 2024, against Salome Devidze at the PPA CIBC Texas Open. [1]
- She has since won 124 consecutive singles matches and gone 250-6 in individual games. [1]
- In 2025, Waters went a perfect 12-for-12 in PPA Tour women’s singles tournaments, the first undefeated singles calendar year of her career. [6]
- By May 22, 2026, her streak had reached 25 consecutive singles tournaments entered without a loss. [6]
- Brooke Buckner is widely regarded as the top threat to end the streak, based on recent head-to-head match quality. [5][7]
- Waters’ playing style, aggressive baseline power combined with elite dinking patience, makes her extremely difficult to beat in best-of-three formats.
- No other active pickleball player comes close to matching this level of singles dominance over the same time frame.
- Fans and analysts give roughly 50/50 odds that the streak ends before 2027, with Buckner the most likely candidate to do it.
What Sport Does Anna Leigh Waters Play?
Anna Leigh Waters is a professional pickleball player competing primarily on the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) Tour. She plays singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the elite level, and is widely considered the best women’s singles player in the world as of 2026.
Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net. Points are scored using a perforated plastic ball, and matches are typically played to 11 points. If you’re new to the sport, our guide to understanding the basic rules of pickleball is a great place to start.
Waters turned professional as a teenager and has since become one of the most decorated players in the sport’s history, winning titles across all three disciplines.
When Did Anna Leigh Waters’ Undefeated Singles Streak Start?
The streak began immediately after Waters’ loss on May 30, 2024, in the semifinals of the PPA CIBC Texas Open, where Salome Devidze defeated her. [1] From that point forward, Waters has not dropped a single match in women’s singles competition on the PPA Tour.
That loss appears to have been a turning point. Waters came back sharper, more consistent, and even harder to break down in long rallies.
Key streak milestones:
- May 30, 2024, Last singles loss (vs. Salome Devidze) [1]
- End of 2025, 12-for-12 in PPA singles tournaments that calendar year [6]
- March 2026, 647 consecutive days without a singles defeat, noted at the Newport Beach Open [8]
- May 22, 2026, 25 consecutive singles tournaments entered without a loss [6]
- Late May 2026, 727 days unbeaten, 124 consecutive match wins [1]
How Long Is Anna Leigh Waters’ Undefeated Singles Streak?
As of late May 2026, Anna Leigh Waters’ undefeated singles streak stands at 727 days and 124 consecutive match wins. [1] Over that span she has played 256 singles games, going 250-6 at the game level, and she has never lost more than one game in any single tournament during the streak. [1]
To put that in perspective: across a full calendar year in 2025, she entered 12 PPA singles tournaments and won all 12. In those 12 gold medal matches alone, she won 24 games and lost only two. [6] That’s not just match dominance, it’s near-total control at every level of competition.
💬 “She has never lost more than one game in any single tournament during the streak.”, The Dink Pickleball [1]
What Tournaments Has Anna Leigh Waters Won Without Losing?
Waters has won every PPA Tour singles event she entered from June 2024 through at least May 2026, a run of 25 consecutive tournaments. [6] This includes major PPA events across the full 2025 season and into the 2026 season.
The Newport Beach Open in March 2026 was a notable example. Waters claimed the singles gold while Buckner pushed her harder than most opponents had in months. [8] Despite the pressure, Waters held on, extending the streak to 647 days at that point. [8]
For fans who want to follow upcoming events, check out our breakdown of highlighting upcoming pickleball tournaments and what you need to know.
Brooke Buckner vs. Anna Leigh Waters: Head-to-Head Record
Buckner has faced Waters multiple times in 2025 and 2026, and while Waters holds the winning edge in their head-to-head record, Buckner has consistently taken sets and pushed matches to competitive lengths. [5][7] No other active player has come as close as consistently as Buckner has in recent months.
At the Newport Beach Open in March 2026, Waters had to dig deep to defeat Buckner, a match Waters described by saying, “I was just fighting with my heart out.” [7] That quote says a lot. When Waters is fighting with her heart, Buckner is the one making her do it.
What makes Buckner a tough matchup for Waters:
- Strong baseline game that can match Waters’ power
- Consistent third-shot drops that neutralize Waters’ aggressive return positioning
- Mental composure under pressure, Buckner doesn’t visibly rattle
- Improving net play that limits Waters’ ability to dominate from the kitchen line
Why Is Brooke Buckner Considered the Top Threat to End the Streak?
Buckner has earned her reputation as the most dangerous challenger through sustained performance, not a single good tournament. [5] She has shown the ability to win games off Waters, extend matches, and force Waters into uncomfortable shot selections.
According to an in-depth profile on pickleball.com, Buckner’s staying power in women’s singles comes from a combination of athletic consistency, smart shot selection, and a refusal to play into Waters’ preferred pace. [5]
🎯 Choose Buckner if you’re looking for the player most likely to beat Waters before 2027, she’s the only one consistently winning games off her in 2026.
Other contenders worth watching include Lea Jansen and Anna Bright, both of whom have strong doubles records and improving singles games. But neither has matched Buckner’s recent head-to-head closeness with Waters.
Can Brooke Buckner Beat Anna Leigh Waters in 2026?
Yes, it’s possible, and many analysts put the odds close to 50/50 for any given match between the two in the second half of 2026. Waters has never lost more than one game in any tournament during the streak [1], but Buckner has taken games off her, which means the gap is real but not insurmountable.
What would need to happen for Buckner to win:
- Force a third game by winning the second set convincingly
- Disrupt Waters’ rhythm early with heavy topspin to the backhand
- Win the kitchen battle, Waters thrives in dinking exchanges, so Buckner needs to speed up selectively
- Stay mentally steady if Waters goes on a run, Buckner’s composure is her biggest asset
Understanding court positioning is a key part of this equation. Our guide on positioning basics and strategic court placement breaks down exactly how elite players control points from the right spots on the court.
Who Are the Other Top Contenders to End Anna Leigh Waters’ Streak?
Buckner is the clear front-runner, but she’s not the only name worth tracking. Several players have shown flashes of the level needed to challenge Waters.
| Player | Threat Level | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Brooke Buckner | 🔴 High | Consistent baseline, composure |
| Anna Bright | 🟡 Medium | Doubles crossover, net aggression |
| Lea Jansen | 🟡 Medium | Speed, athleticism |
| Salome Devidze | 🟡 Medium | Last player to beat Waters (2024) |
| Catherine Parenteau | 🟠 Moderate | Experience, shot variety |
Devidze is the only player who has actually beaten Waters during the current era, which makes her a permanent wildcard. But her consistency on the PPA Tour hasn’t matched Buckner’s in 2025-2026.
What Is Anna Leigh Waters’ Playing Style and Strategy?
Waters plays an aggressive, high-percentage game built on three pillars: powerful groundstrokes, elite dinking patience, and exceptional court awareness. She controls points from the baseline with heavy topspin, moves opponents side to side, then closes at the kitchen for the finish.
What makes her so hard to beat in singles is that she rarely gives opponents a clean look. She forces errors rather than going for low-percentage winners, which is why her game-loss rate is so low, just 6 games lost in 256 played during the streak. [1]
Waters’ core tactical patterns:
- Use the drive-and-reset to neutralize aggressive opponents
- Win the first game to apply psychological pressure
- Vary pace to disrupt opponents who rely on timing
- Attack the backhand side under pressure
For players who want to study elite shot selection, our breakdown of exploring different shot types from dinks to smashes covers the mechanics behind the shots Waters uses most.
Has Anyone Come Close to Beating Anna Leigh Waters Recently?
Yes, Buckner came closest at the Newport Beach Open in March 2026, forcing Waters to describe the match as a genuine fight. [7][8] Before that, Waters had been winning most tournament matches with relative comfort.
The fact that Waters had to “fight with her heart out” [7] against Buckner is the clearest sign that the streak is under real pressure in 2026. It’s not a matter of if someone gets close, Buckner already has. The question is whether she can convert that closeness into a win.
How Does Anna Leigh Waters’ Undefeated Streak Compare to Other Athletes?
Waters’ 124-match winning streak in professional singles pickleball is one of the longest active undefeated runs in any racket sport. [1] For comparison:
- In tennis, Novak Djokovic’s longest winning streak was 43 matches (2015-2016)
- Steffi Graf won 66 consecutive matches in 1989-1990
- In pickleball’s short professional history, no other player has come close to this level of singles dominance over two-plus years
The pickleball context matters. The PPA Tour runs a dense schedule with multiple tournaments per month, meaning Waters has had far more opportunities to lose than a tennis player would in the same time frame. Winning 25 consecutive tournaments in that environment is genuinely historic.
What Tournaments Are Scheduled for Anna Leigh Waters in 2026?
The PPA Tour runs events throughout the year, with major stops in cities across the United States and internationally. Waters is expected to compete in PPA singles events through the remainder of the 2026 season, including events in the late summer and fall. [1]
A PPA Vietnam recap from 2026 showed Waters was active on the international circuit as well, with the tour expanding its global footprint. [9] Anna Bright and other top players were competing at that event, signaling that the field is getting stronger across the board.
For context on how tournament formats work, which affects strategy and scheduling, see our guide on understanding tournament formats for recreational players.
What Would It Take for Someone to Beat Anna Leigh Waters?
Beating Waters requires a combination of physical, technical, and mental factors all coming together on the same day. No single element is enough on its own.
The formula for beating Waters:
- Win the kitchen battle, She’s elite at dinking, so opponents need to speed up selectively rather than letting rallies extend indefinitely
- Attack her backhand, Under pressure, forcing errors from the backhand side is the highest-percentage approach
- Win the first game, Waters has never lost a tournament after winning the first game during the streak [1]; flipping that script is essential
- Stay mentally composed, Waters is known for momentum swings; opponents who panic when she goes on a run hand her the match
For players who want to understand how to exploit opponent tendencies at any level, our guide on common opponent weaknesses and strategies to exploit in pickleball covers the tactical thinking behind competitive play.
How Much Pressure Is Anna Leigh Waters Under to Maintain Her Streak?
Waters has spoken about the mental weight of the streak, and it’s real. The longer a winning run goes, the more each match carries psychological stakes beyond the result itself. [7]
That said, Waters has shown no signs of cracking under that pressure. Her 2025 season, 12 tournaments, 12 golds, was actually her most dominant year yet. [6] If anything, the streak seems to fuel her focus rather than burden it.
Our piece on mental pitfalls in pickleball and how to stay focused during matches explores the psychological side of competitive play that Waters navigates at the highest level.
FAQ
Q: How many matches has Anna Leigh Waters won in a row? As of late May 2026, Waters has won 124 consecutive singles matches on the PPA Tour, dating back to her last loss on May 30, 2024. [1]
Q: Who was the last person to beat Anna Leigh Waters in singles? Salome Devidze defeated Waters in the semifinals of the PPA CIBC Texas Open on May 30, 2024. [1]
Q: Has Brooke Buckner ever beaten Anna Leigh Waters? Not during Waters’ current streak. Buckner has pushed Waters to competitive matches and won games, but has not won a full match against her in 2025 or 2026. [5][7]
Q: What is Anna Leigh Waters’ win-loss record in singles games during the streak? She has gone 250-6 in individual games across 256 played, losing no more than one game in any single tournament. [1]
Q: Did Anna Leigh Waters go undefeated in 2025? Yes. Waters went 12-for-12 in PPA Tour women’s singles tournaments in 2025, making it the first undefeated singles calendar year of her career. [6]
Q: Is Brooke Buckner ranked in the top women’s singles players? Yes. Buckner is consistently ranked among the top women’s singles players on the PPA Tour and is widely considered the most credible threat to Waters’ streak in 2026. [5]
Q: How does Waters’ streak compare to other racket sports records? It’s one of the longest active winning streaks in professional racket sports. Most elite tennis players’ longest streaks fall between 30-66 matches; Waters’ 124-match run far exceeds those benchmarks in a sport with a denser competitive schedule.
Q: What tournament is most likely to end Waters’ streak? Any event where Buckner is in the draw is the highest-risk scenario, based on their recent head-to-head history. [7][8]
Q: Can recreational players learn anything from Waters’ playing style? Absolutely. Her emphasis on patience at the kitchen, high-percentage shot selection, and consistent groundstrokes are all skills that translate directly to recreational play at any level.
Q: Where can I watch Anna Leigh Waters compete? PPA Tour events are streamed on the PPA Tour’s official channels and on major sports streaming platforms. Check the PPA Tour website for the current 2026 schedule.
Conclusion
Anna Leigh Waters’ undefeated singles streak is one of the most remarkable runs in professional racket sports history, 727 days, 124 matches, 25 consecutive tournaments, and a perfect 2025 season. [1][6] It’s not a fluke. It’s the product of elite athleticism, tactical intelligence, and mental toughness that few players in any sport can match.
But Brooke Buckner is making it interesting. She’s the one opponent who has consistently pushed Waters to the edge, and with a full second half of the 2026 PPA season still to play, the question of whether Anna Leigh Waters’ undefeated singles streak will survive 2026 is very much open.
Actionable next steps for fans and players:
- Follow the PPA Tour schedule to catch upcoming Waters vs. Buckner matchups
- Study Waters’ kitchen game and shot selection using video analysis techniques from experienced pickleball players
- Work on your own singles strategy using advanced techniques for mastering spin and placement
- Join a local pickleball community to discuss the streak and follow the sport together, check out building community through pickleball
Whether the streak ends in 2026 or runs into 2027, watching it play out is one of the best reasons to be part of the pickleball community right now. 🎾
References
[1] Anna Leigh Waters Undefeated Singles Streak By The Numbers – https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/anna-leigh-waters-undefeated-singles-streak-by-the-numbers/
[5] Inside Brooke Buckners Staying Power In Womens Singles – https://pickleball.com/people/inside-brooke-buckners-staying-power-in-womens-singles
[6] Abcs Of 2025 – https://www.ppatour.com/abcs-of-2025/
[7] Waters Digs Deep To Defeat Buckner I Was Just Fighting My Heart Out – https://pickleball.com/news/waters-digs-deep-to-defeat-buckner-i-was-just-fighting-my-heart-out
[8] Hunter Wins Alw Grabs Another Triple Newport Beach Open Recap – https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/hunter-wins-alw-grabs-another-triple-newport-beach-open-recap/
[9] Ppa Vietnam Day 4 Recap Christian Captures Womens Singles Title With Massive Comeback As Ly Triumphs On Home Soil – https://pickleball.com/news/ppa-vietnam-day-4-recap-christian-captures-womens-singles-title-with-massive-comeback-as-ly-triumphs-on-home-soil
