News Summary
Virginia Beach hosted an electrifying Professional Pickleball Association Cup despite a nor’easter’s rain delays. Top player Anna Leigh Waters excelled across multiple divisions, highlighting her dominance as she secured multiple titles. The tournament showcased remarkable matches with spectators braving the weather. Championship games are set for broadcast on PickleballTV, promising more excitement as finals approach. Despite interruptions, the tournament proved to be a testament to the resilience of athletes and their dedication to the sport.
Virginia Beach witnessed thrilling competition at the Professional Pickleball Association’s Virginia Beach Cup despite challenging weather conditions caused by a nor’easter. The tournament, hosted at the Pickleball Virginia Beach facility off Birdneck Road, was affected by intermittent rain delays, leading to schedule adjustments throughout the event.
Action resumed shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday, two hours later than originally planned, as spectators braved the elements to support the players. Championship Sunday showcased intense matches, particularly from top player Anna Leigh Waters, who participated in three divisions: mixed doubles, women’s doubles, and women’s singles. Waters, currently ranked No. 1 globally in all these categories, had already secured titles in the mixed and women’s doubles.
While the women’s singles final was postponed until Monday after the men’s doubles final, the men’s doubles final was suspended due to rain. This match will now resume at 9 a.m. Monday, with both finals scheduled to be broadcast on PickleballTV. Admission for spectators remained free during the event.
Throughout the tournament, officials worked diligently to dry the court during rain interruptions, ensuring the safety and playability of the venue. In a standout performance, Waters, alongside partner Ben Johns, claimed victory in the mixed doubles final against second seeds JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson with scores of 11-7, 11-3, 11-6. This win emphasizes Waters’ dominance in the sport.
In another highlight of the tournament, 15th-seeded Chris Haworth triumphed over fourth-seeded Christian Alshon in men’s singles, with scores of 11-8, 12-10, marking a significant milestone as Haworth secured his first title as a full-time professional. Alshon, a former Virginia Cavaliers tennis player, narrowly missed forcing a third game, having held a game point in the second game.
Waters and her doubles partner, Anna Bright, exhibited remarkable teamwork to defeat the second-seeded duo of Jorja Johnson and Rachel Rohrabacher in the women’s doubles final, finishing with scores of 11-3, 11-1, 11-3. The title was especially significant for the pair as it was their first win since August 10 in Bristol, Tennessee.
The men’s doubles category saw top seeds Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio matched against fourth seeds JW Johnson and CJ Klinger, but this match was cut short due to rain, reflecting the unpredictable weather conditions of the tournament. Prize money distribution varied significantly—winners in singles received $3,330 each, while doubles champions shared a purse of $9,000, and second-place finishers divided $4,950. Players reaching the round of 16 in each bracket also earned a share of the prize purse.
The final rain delay on Sunday evening led organizers to suspend any further games around 7:30 p.m., marking an unusual end to an electrifying day of pickleball.
Despite the weather-related challenges, the Virginia Beach Cup proved to be an engaging event, highlighting the resilience and talent of athletes in the sport, particularly the exceptional performance of Anna Leigh Waters.
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Additional Resources
- Pilot Online: Virginia Beach Cup
- WTKR: Nationwide Pro Pickleball Tour
- The Dink Pickleball: Tournament Preview
- 13 News Now: Virginia Beach Pickleball Festival
- Daily Press: Anna Leigh Waters
- Wikipedia: Pickleball
- Google Search: Pickleball Virginia Beach
- Google Scholar: Pickleball Virginia Beach
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pickleball
- Google News: Pickleball
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