Anna Leigh Waters won her 41st career Triple Crown at the SXY Newport Beach Open, Ben Johns won two golds and Hunter Johnson took men’s singles.
The short answer: Anna Leigh Waters won her 41st career Triple Crown at the SXY Newport Beach Open in early March 2026, taking singles without losing a game and beating Lea Jansen 11-2, 11-1 in the final. Ben Johns won men’s doubles with Gabriel Tardio and mixed with Waters, while Hunter Johnson won men’s singles gold.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns Reassert Dominance at the SXY Newport Beach Open
In a display of sustained excellence, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns captured multiple gold medals at the SXY Newport Beach Open presented by JOOLA, held in Southern California in early March 2026. The Professional Pickleball Association Tour event brought together the foremost players in the sport, competing under warm atmospheric conditions that tested their physical endurance and tactical adaptability.
The Newport Beach tournament not only highlighted the established hierarchy but also revealed emerging challengers within the professional ranks. With international broadcasters and global audiences tuning in, the event demonstrated the commercial and competitive viability of elite pickleball, setting a rigorous standard for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The progression of the tournament was defined by the systematic dismantling of opponents by the top seeds, though not without moments of intense friction. Waters maintained an immaculate record throughout the weekend, securing singles gold without conceding a single game. Her finals victory over fifth seed Lea Jansen, concluding with an emphatic 11-2, 11-1 scoreline, illustrated her unmatched baseline consistency and court coverage. In women’s doubles, Waters partnered with Anna Bright to achieve a similar feat, progressing through five matches without dropping a game, eventually defeating Parris Todd and Rachel Rohrabacher 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 in the championship round.
The men’s doubles final provided a masterclass in tactical anticipation. Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio preserved their undefeated 2026 campaign by overcoming the formidable pairing of Hayden Patriquin and Christian Alshon. The four-game encounter, which concluded 11-6, 11-2, 3-11, 11-8, was characterised by high-velocity exchanges at the non-volley zone. Johns attributed their success to advanced pattern recognition, noting that navigating the rapid hand battles relies less on raw reaction speed and more on predicting the opponent’s subsequent shot placement.
Beyond the predictable triumphs of the top seeds, the tournament witnessed significant structural shifts in the men’s singles hierarchy. Hunter Johnson asserted his claim to the premier ranking by defeating Federico Staksrud 12-10, 11-9 in a tense final. The match featured intense psychological battles, peaking when Staksrud questioned Johnson’s vocal grunting during critical baseline rallies, highlighting the immense pressure inherent in top-tier singles competition.
Furthermore, the mixed doubles bracket delivered a monumental upset during the quarterfinal stage. Tenth seeds Tina Pisnik and Eric Oncins eliminated the highly favoured pairing of Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin, recovering from a severe opening game deficit to secure a 2-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory. Pisnik’s defensive solidity complemented Oncins’ expansive court coverage, proving that structural discipline can overcome pure offensive power on the professional circuit.
What’s the score?
The main takeaway from Newport Beach is the crystallisation of a two-tier system within professional pickleball. While athletes like Waters and Johns occupy an isolated echelon of consistent supremacy, the chasing pack is experiencing unprecedented volatility. The ascension of players like Hunter Johnson and the disruptive potential of pairings such as Pisnik and Oncins indicate that tactical innovation is accelerating, demanding constant adaptation from established champions and ensuring the sport remains fiercely competitive.
Hit it deeper!
Analysing the strategic developments at the SXY Newport Beach Open reveals a fundamental shift in how professional pickleball is contested. The warm Southern Californian climate significantly affected the ball’s velocity, reducing the efficiency of pure power play and elongating rallies. This environmental factor necessitated a transition from aggressive shot-making to attritional, endurance-based strategies. Players who excelled, such as Pisnik, demonstrated that elite defensive mechanics and the ability to reset the ball consistently are becoming just as valuable as offensive firepower.
The World Pickleball magazine verdict
The SXY Newport Beach Open served as a clear showcase of the current professional paradigm, highlighting both the unyielding dominance of generational talents and the tactical sophistication required to challenge them. As the sport continues its aggressive expansion into new global territories, the technical standards exhibited in California will act as the universal benchmark for professional competence.
Looking ahead, the international pickleball community must closely observe the tactical adaptations pioneered on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour and wider tournament circuit. The integration of cognitive pattern recognition and defensive resilience will inevitably shape the next generation of global competitors, ensuring the sport’s continued evolution toward technical mastery on the world stage.
For broader context around elite competition, player movement, and the sport’s growth in North America, readers can also explore our latest pickleball news, follow the global calendar in tournaments, track elite talent through rankings and players, and monitor developments across the United States pickleball scene.
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Frequently asked questions
Newport Beach was her 41st career Triple Crown.
Waters and Anna Bright, beating Parris Todd and Rachel Rohrabacher 11-4, 11-5, 11-3.
Hunter Johnson.
Further reading
- Latest pickleball news from around the world
- Tournament coverage, results, and previews
- Player rankings and profile pages
- United States pickleball coverage
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine, published by World Pickleball Media Ltd. He follows the global game closely, reporting on news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball…
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