Parenteau and Waters pair up for first title of 2024

Even Anna Leigh Waters needs a bit of a pick-me-up from time to time. 

Hard to believe, but it’s true.

Same goes for Catherine Parenteau. 

“If I feel a little down or I’m not playing well, she’s extra positive. Chemistry is so important. If you don’t pick your partner up, and if things aren’t going well, you’re not going to have much success.”

And the thing is, Parenteau and Waters, the best women’s pickleball team in the world, and frankly, there’s no clear No. 2 team, don’t have many bouts with adversity. They win. They don’t lose. They raise trophies, expectations, and the blood pressure of the team on the other side of the net.

They don’t lose, mainly because they are the best players in the game, but partly because they get along so well together.

“We really do try to support each other,” Parenteau said.

That showed Sunday at the PPA’s Hyundai Masters, the first event of the season, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Parenteau and Waters faced only mild pressure on their way to an 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 win against Rachel Rohrabacher and Anna Bright.

“You can’t play with any doubt,” Parenteau said. “You have to remind yourself why you’re the No. 1 team in the world. When Anna Leigh struggles, I just remind her she’s the best. If she ever gets down on herself, I tell her she’s No. 1 for a reason.”

The reason is the wins and the trophy case that needs to be expanded. 

The count is now at seven tournaments in a row with a victory for the pair. They didn’t lose a match in all of 2023. 

Sunday also marked another triple crown for Waters, who won with Ben Johns in mixed doubles and then finished the day with a singles win against Parenteau.

So, what’s next for the two after a season of perfection and the continuation of it after the first tournament of 2024?

“It’s going to just be taking it one match at a time and earning new shots,” Parenteau said.  “We’re enjoying all of it and getting better as a team. Yes, we’re undefeated. It’s been a year, but we have to take it one match at a time and hope that we can accomplish what we did last year.”