Anna Leigh Waters Set to Shine at Zion Cup 2023

Anna Leigh Waters is set to compete at the Zion Cup 2023, aiming for her next Triple Crown title. With strong performances in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, she is the favorite to win. The tournament promises exciting matchups, featuring emerging talents and seasoned players. Fans can look forward to thrilling contests as Waters and her competitors vie for victory in Utah.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 22, 2026, 16:58 IST

Zion Cup 2023 Overview

Anna Leigh Waters, a dominant force in women's pickleball, is poised to take center stage at the Zion Cup, commencing on March 23 at the Black Desert Resort. Waters enters the tournament on a high note, having recently clinched her 43rd Triple Crown title at the Texas Open. She will not only compete in women's singles but will also team up with Anna Bright for women's doubles and partner with Ben Johns in mixed doubles. Given her impressive performance, she is widely regarded as the frontrunner for yet another Triple Crown victory.

Waters' performance in 2026 has been remarkable, averaging just over three points conceded per game in singles. With several Triple Crowns under her belt in recent competitions, she aims to continue her winning streak in Utah. The duo of Waters and Bright in women's doubles has shown significant improvement, distancing themselves from their competitors from 2025. In mixed doubles, despite some challenges this season, Waters and Johns remain the team to beat, with strong contenders like the second-seeded siblings Jorja and JW Johnson, and the third-seeded pair of Bright and Hayden Patriquin.

The early rounds promise exciting matchups, especially in mixed doubles, featuring teams like Lacy Schneemann and Jonathan Truong against Rachel Rettger and Nicolas Acevedo, as well as Jessie Irvine and Dekel Bar facing Elsie Hendershot and Cam Chaffin. Emerging talents like Tama Shimabukuro are also making waves as they seek significant victories.

In the women's doubles bracket, promising players such as Elsie Hendershot and Lingwei Kong are looking to challenge established teams. Young athletes like Ella Yeh and Kiora Kunimoto add to the excitement with their dynamic playing styles.

Armaan Bhatia vs. Hewett in Men's Singles

In men's singles, top contenders Hunter Johnson, Federico Staksrud, and Chris Haworth have brought stability to a typically unpredictable field. However, early matchups like JW Johnson against Tyson McGuffin and Rafa Hewett facing Armaan Bhatia highlight the competitive nature of the tournament.

There is also speculation about potential dark horses, with the men's doubles team of Pablo Tellez and Jack Sock, along with the seasoned women's pair of Callie Smith and Lea Jansen, expected to challenge the higher seeds. Sock, who is seeded seventh in men's singles, is considered a strong candidate for a podium finish.

As the tournament progresses, spectators can anticipate a thrilling mix of established champions and rising stars, with early matches likely to showcase some of the most exciting moments of the week.