Anna Leigh Waters Set for International Debut at PPA Tour Asia’s MB Hanoi Cup

“I’ve experienced the sport’s growth in the U.S., and I am honored to be part of the first PPA Tour Asia event in Hanoi,” said Waters.

World No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters will make her international competition debut next month at the PPA Tour Asia’s MB Hanoi Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The tournament, part of the PPA Asia 1000 series, will take place April 1–5 at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena. Waters is scheduled to compete in women’s doubles alongside Anna Bright and in mixed doubles with Ben Johns.

Champions in each event will earn 1,000 global PPA ranking points.

Waters’ appearance is expected to be a significant moment for the sport’s expansion in Asia.

“Making my international debut in Vietnam is one of the highlights of my career,” Waters said in a statement.

“I’ve experienced the sport’s growth in the U.S., and I am honored to be part of the first PPA Tour Asia event in Hanoi.”

Following the tournament, Waters will travel to Ho Chi Minh City for a Franklin Sports pickleball clinic and showcase scheduled for April 6–7. The sessions are designed to give local players an opportunity to train and interact with one of the sport’s top athletes.

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Franklin Sports Head of International Competition Jared Franklin called Waters’ participation “an exciting milestone” for pickleball’s global growth, noting that her presence in Vietnam will help introduce new audiences to the sport.

The MB Hanoi Cup is part of the expanding PPA Tour Asia circuit, which aims to grow professional and amateur pickleball across the region through international events and athlete development initiatives.

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"To be able to compete and then share the sport I love through clinics and a showcase in Ho Chi Minh City with Franklin Sports is an incredible opportunity to help grow the game on a world stage," Waters added.

At just 19 years old, Waters is already one of the most decorated players in the sport. She currently holds the No. 1 ranking in women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour and has won a record 191 gold medals and 41 triple crowns across major competitions.