Anna Leigh Waters, World’s Best Pickleball Player, Is Coming to Southeast Asia—and PH and Malaysia Will Get Her First
Nineteen years old, ranked world No. 1, and about to touch down in two of pickleball’s fastest-growing markets. Anna Leigh Waters will be holding a four-country Southeast Asian tour this October, and the itinerary alone tells you a great deal about where the sport’s real momentum currently sits.
Manila kicks things off. Waters opens her regional showcase there before moving on to Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, with the whole tour organised by Franklin Sports. The choice of the Philippines as her opening stop wasn’t arbitrary, either. Franklin points to the country’s staggering 1,213 percent year-over-year growth rate as proof of its “emergence as a global phenomenon in racket sports”—a figure that currently makes it the fastest-growing pickleball market anywhere in the world, and reason enough for Franklin to top its global expansion priorities with a Manila stop.
Jared Franklin, the brand’s head of international, didn’t hide his enthusiasm about the pairing. “We are honoured and excited to bring our Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase to the Philippines,” he said. “The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in the world, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring the no. 1 player in the world, Anna Leigh Waters, to Manila.” He went further still, framing the visit as part of a broader commitment to the sport’s development globally, and to Waters herself showcasing the very products she trusts at the highest level of competition.
“As a world leader in pickleball, Franklin is committed to developing the sport and bringing players the very best products and innovation. It’s even more special to have Anna Leigh, the game’s greatest player, competing with and showcasing Franklin products that she trusts at the highest level. This visit reflects Franklin’s commitment to supporting the growth of pickleball on a global scale. We’re thrilled to connect with the incredible pickleball community in the Philippines and to play a part in the continued growth of this amazing sport.”
Malaysia’s Turn: The Franklin Pickleball Asia Pro Showcase 3
Malaysian fans get their own crack at seeing Anna Leigh Waters up close when the tour lands for the Franklin Pickleball Asia Pro Showcase 3 on 17 October, with doors opening at 4.30 p.m. and the showcase itself kicking off at 6pm at 91 Pickleball, Hextar World @ Empire City. Expect the full spectacle—high-octane exhibition matches, celebrity appearances, games, giveaways, and an exclusive Franklin pop-up on site. Those wanting more than a spectator’s view can upgrade to selected VIP packages for a personal photo opportunity with Waters herself.
There’s an added hook for the KL leg specifically: fans get an exclusive first look at Franklin’s mystery paddle, an unreleased design Franklin’s top professionals have quietly been testing on tour. Attendees hoping to actually get hands-on with it ahead of everyone else can do so through the Super Fan or Super VIP Fan Pack tiers, which include pre-release access to the paddle itself.
A Mystery Paddle With a Backstory
That mystery paddle isn’t coming out of nowhere. It’s the same all-black design, marked with a bold white question mark, that Waters posed with in a viral Instagram post from early September, shot in front of her own billboard in Times Square, New York. It’s also the exact paddle she used to win the Major League Pickleball finals — making its appearance across the Manila and Kuala Lumpur legs rather more than a marketing gimmick.
Fans at the Philippine showcase will also get to see Franklin’s X-40 ball in action, widely regarded as the sport’s global gold standard and holding more than 75 percent market share in North America. It’s the official ball of Manny Pacquiao’s Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour, the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships, the APP Tour, the Pickleball Slam, USA Pickleball, and well over a thousand tournaments worldwide. Franklin has also flagged an even faster successor on the way, the X-44, expected to launch and carry Waters’ endorsement near the turn of the year.
Franklin’s roster of sponsored professionals extends well beyond Waters herself, too, covering athletes who’ve combined for 105 medals across the PPA and APP Pro Tours this year alone, including Hayden Patriquin, Paris Todd, Will Howells, Jimmy Liong, Sofia Sewing, Casey Diamond, Megan Fudge, and Ryler DeHeart. Filipino fans wanting to get their hands on Franklin’s gear can already do so through local retail partners including Decathlon, Toby’s Sports, Chris Sports, and Juego PH.
Full details on Manila’s specific venue, schedule, and fan interaction opportunities are still to come, with further announcements promised via Franklin Pickleball’s social channels in the weeks ahead.
