The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships is in the books. Over 3,500 pickleball players descended on Brookhaven Country Club to play and to see the pros play. The crowds were large every day, with standing room only on Championship Sunday. All five events had their share of drama.
1. The Anna’s get revenge
Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright have dominated women’s doubles in 2025, although not quite to the extent many suspected they would. One of their two losses was to Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black. Those four met in the semifinal, which for many of us was seen as the true gold medal match, as it featured the two best duos in women’s pro pickleball. The first game was very close, and Johnson/Black could easily have won it. But Waters/Bright prevailed and won the match 11-9, 11-2. In the final, Waters/Bright easily defeated Catherine Parenteau/Parris Todd 11-2, 11-2, 11-5. Ever since Waters dropped Parenteau as her doubles partner, Parenteau just appears mentally defeated whenever she faces Waters now as an opponent, and thus none of their matches are really close.
Waters and Bright were dominant all week, but did lose a game to Tina Pisnik/Kate Fahey. Otherwise, there were only two games where opponents were able to score six or more points in a game. Only the pairs of Johnson/Black and the Kawamotos appear to be able to play the combination of consistent defense paired with strong counters that is needed to win two of three games against Waters/Bright.
2. Staksrud/Patriquin win an emotional gold in men’s doubles
Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin have been a top team for nearly two years, but they have had trouble breaking through to gold in 2025, mainly because the Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio powerhouse has defeated them each time they have played. Before they could play Johns/Tardio, Staksrud/Patriquin were heavily tested by Jonathan Truong/Jaume Martinez Vich in the quarters. The experience of Staksrud/Patriquin was just enough for them to get through 12-10, 12-10.
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