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Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballSchool. In my recent conversation with Anna Leigh Waters, we talked about what really goes through her head during those big moments on court—like when she and Ben Johns were down 4-10 in a high-stakes match against Tyra and Christian at the Masters. Her perspective on comebacks, confidence, and how she manages pressure offered a look into the mental side of championship pickleball that often goes unspoken.
Coming Back from 4-10: How Two Points Can Change a Match
At 4-9, Ben missed a return that brought it to 4-10—just one point from losing. They called a timeout. Sitting on the bench, they knew it wasn’t looking great.
“We know we can come back,” Anna Leigh said, “but at the same time, we had absolutely no momentum.”
After the timeout, things shifted. They didn’t miss returns, they reset, and they won the next two points. Suddenly, belief kicked in: “Okay, now we have a chance. Maybe we could win now.”
Those tight moments are less about swinging big and more about precision. Ben, for instance, got some high balls but didn’t try to crush them for winners. “He was going for placement and spin. When you’re down 4-10, you cannot afford to give away easy points,” she explained.
Controlled Aggression and the Sweet Spot Between Fear and Overconfidence
One of the keys for Anna Leigh and Ben in those pressure moments is what they call “controlled aggression.” It’s the mindset of playing bold, but smart—not swinging for the fences, but also not playing scared.
“You can’t take that to the extreme and be super tight like, ‘I can’t miss a ball.’ It’s somewhere in the middle,” she said.
They also knew part of the comeback involved a little luck—an unforced error from the other team here or a fortunate backhand winner there—but the belief had to be there first. “The main thing is just like belief that you can come back from that.”
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The Power of Belief: “I’m Not Losing This Match”
Anna Leigh’s mom, Leigh Waters, shared a moment from a match against JW in San Clemente where they were down 10-4 again. “She comes over to me and she’s like, ‘Alright, Mom. What do we do? I’m not losing this match. Tell me what to do.’” That immediate refusal to accept defeat is a consistent part of Anna Leigh’s game.
Even when she’s down, she’s talking to herself positively. “You hear me on the court—‘Come on, fight, you got this!’ Even if I miss a shot, it’s like, ‘That was the right idea.’”
This mindset even shows up in matches she ends up losing. “Halfway through, I’m still telling myself, ‘You’re going to win this match.’”
What You Tell Yourself Matters—Science Backs It
According to Anna Leigh, it’s not just pep talk—it’s real.
“It’s amazing what the brain can do for you. Because the minute your brain thinks, ‘I can’t do it,’ your body literally can’t do it. It’s proven science.”
Anna Leigh WatersShe emphasized that self-talk matters. If you’re telling yourself you suck, your confidence nosedives. But if you keep your language positive—even if you’re frustrated—you give yourself a chance to rebound.
Flipping the Switch After a Mistake
So what about everyday players who get mad after an error? Is it okay to be frustrated?
Anna Leigh says yes—but with a rule.
“My mental coach says it’s okay to go crazy for a second after you miss a shot—as long as right after that, you’re back into being yourself.”
Anna Leigh WatersThat’s why she’ll yell something in the moment, not as self-punishment, but to release it and move on. “But not like a ‘Oh, you suck.’ That’s different. Say something, let it out, and then flip it.”
That simple shift in language, that tiny moment of emotional reset, is part of what makes her mental game elite.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, the takeaway from Anna Leigh is simple: confidence isn’t a feeling—it’s a choice. And momentum can shift in two points, even when it feels like everything’s against you. As long as you believe, anything can happen.
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