Anna Leigh Waters Rumors, Paddle Wars, Rick’s Signature shot Revealed & The #1 Tip For 2026
Release Date: 01/05/2026
Jackie & Jade Kawamoto: The Corporate Assassins Who Are Taking Down Full-Time Pros.
This is Pickleball
In this episode, we sit down with the PPA’s most synchronized force: Jackie and Jade Kawamoto. From their childhood in Maui to their Division 1 tennis days at the University of Dayton, the sisters share their unique path to the podium. Unlike many full-time pros, Jackie and Jade maintain careers at the NCAA, a "diversion" they claim keeps them mentally sharp and prevents the burnout seen in specialized athletes. The sisters take us behind the scenes of their historic Cincinnati win, where they overcame a massive deficit to beat the world #1s. We dive into the "paddle gate" drama that forced...
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ALW's $10M Payday, Nike Enters the Chat, The Ripsken Story, & The Truth About Rec Play
This is Pickleball
From the historic $10 million contract for Anna Leigh Waters to the emotional origin story of the Ripsken brand, this episode covers the entire spectrum of the sport. In this episode of This is Pickleball, Rick and Fabian break down the massive "Paddle Shuffle" of 2026—tracking the moves of Rachel Rohrabacher, Chris Haworth, and rumors about the Johnson siblings. Rick then opens up in a rare, vulnerable segment about his late brother, Todd Witsken (former World #1), and the spiritual connection he shares with his nephew, tennis superstar Ben Shelton. Plus, Rick drops essential coaching...
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Zane’s Hot Takes: The $10M ALW Rumor, UPA Drama & Coaching Myths
This is Pickleball
From quitting his job as a Deloitte auditor to becoming the World #1 and inventing the most controversial serve in pickleball history, Zane Navratil is the ultimate disruptor. In this episode of This is Pickleball, Rick and Fabian sit down with the "Moneyball" king himself to discuss his wild journey, his new role as President of the UPA Pro Player Committee, and the explosive drama surrounding player contracts and firings. Zane doesn't hold back on the "hot paddle" controversy, the future of Anna Leigh Waters (is a $10 million deal coming?), and why he believes tennis players are finally...
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Anna Leigh Waters Rumors, Paddle Wars, Rick’s Signature shot Revealed & The #1 Tip For 2026
This is Pickleball
Kick off 2026 with a bang! In this special New Year's episode of This is Pickleball, Rick and Fabian dive headfirst into the chaotic world of "Paddle Wars." With contract negotiations exploding and pros switching brands left and right, the guys break down the biggest moves, rumors, and controversies shaking up the PPA . From the speculation surrounding Anna Leigh Waters leaving Paddletek (is Nike involved?) to Rachel Rohrabacher's shocking departure from Selkirk, Rick offers his insider perspective on why pros really switch gear—and it's not always about the paddle. Rick also shares his own...
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Playing Pro While Pregnant, Pushing Anna Leigh Waters, & The Agassi Collab with Brooke Buckner
This is Pickleball
Brooke Buckner is proof that you can have it all—if you're willing to work harder than everyone else. A University of Michigan tennis legend and former D1 coach, Brooke traded the sidelines for the center court and quickly skyrocketed to the Top 5 in the world in singles. Fresh off an MLP Challenger Championship with the Las Vegas Night Owls and a Bronze at the World Championships, Brooke joins Rick and Fabian to discuss her incredible rise. She pulls back the curtain on being the first-ever Agassi x Joola signature athlete, the intensity of battling Anna Leigh Waters, and the chaotic...
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Matt Manasse: Hollywood’s Favorite Coach, Road-Tripping With Ben Johns & The Global Pickleball Boom
This is Pickleball
Matt Manasse was born to coach. From the high-pressure courts of collegiate tennis to the glitz of the "Pickleball Coach to the Stars" moniker, Matt has a unique ability to bridge the gap between elite athletics and pure entertainment. A former high-performance tennis coach for stars like Shelby Rogers, Matt joins Rick to discuss his rapid ascent in the pickleball world—a journey that started with taping lines on a driveway during the pandemic and led to road-tripping with Ben Johns and Simone Jardim. In this episode, Rick and Matt relive their legendary "Battle of the Sexes" victory against...
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Jack Munro: The "APP King," Artificial Ambidexterity & The Youngest 5.0 In History
This is Pickleball
Jack Munro is a force of nature. Dominating the APP tour in 2025, he and his partner clinched seven gold medals, setting a new record for most consecutive wins in APP history. But his impact isn't just on the podium; he's one of the sport's biggest creators, reaching over 10 million people a month with game-changing content. Fresh off his historic run, Jack joins Rick to discuss his unique path: from a baseball-ending injury at age 10 to becoming the youngest 5.0 player in history at 12. He shares the powerful, emotional story of his APP Daytona win, playing for his grandpa in his final hours....
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Andrei Daescu's Career Ending Injury, Quitting Tennis & How Pickleball Saved His Life
This is Pickleball
Andrei Daescu was born to compete. From his early days in Bucharest, Romania, to a standout All-American tennis career at the University of Oklahoma and a pro run that saw him reach ATP #120 and represent his country in the Davis Cup, his athletic pedigree is elite. But after a shoulder injury cut his tennis career short, pickleball gave him a "second chance" to compete. Today, Andrei is one of the most dominant forces in the sport, sitting at #3 in the PPA men's doubles rankings. Fresh off a 2025 Major League Pickleball championship with the underdog Columbus Sliders, he joins Rick to discuss...
info_outlineKick off 2026 with a bang! In this special New Year's episode of This is Pickleball, Rick and Fabian dive headfirst into the chaotic world of "Paddle Wars." With contract negotiations exploding and pros switching brands left and right, the guys break down the biggest moves, rumors, and controversies shaking up the PPA . From the speculation surrounding Anna Leigh Waters leaving Paddletek (is Nike involved?) to Rachel Rohrabacher's shocking departure from Selkirk, Rick offers his insider perspective on why pros really switch gear—and it's not always about the paddle. Rick also shares his own origin story, tracing his journey from a tennis coach in 2011 to becoming a pioneer in the sport, resurfacing high school courts on his own dime to host early tournaments. Plus, he reveals the secrets behind his signature "Backhand Slice Return" and gives his #1 New Year's resolution for amateurs looking to level up their game.
🔑 Key Takeaways
The 2026 Paddle Shuffle: A breakdown of major pro moves, including rumors about Anna Leigh Waters (Nike/Franklin?), Rachel Rohrabacher leaving Selkirk, and Kaitlyn Christian joining Luzz.
The "Hot Paddle" Issue: How the combination of new paddle tech and the Lifetime ball is changing the speed and safety of the game.
Rick's Origin Story: How Rick discovered pickleball in 2011 and took a massive risk by resurfacing high school courts to host the first APP pro tournament in Zionsville.
Signature Shot Revealed: Rick breaks down the mechanics of his "Backhand Slice Return"—vertical paddle entry, grip pressure, and body weight transfer.
Amateur Advice: Rick's top tip for 2026 is focusing on flexibility (lunges, yoga) to get lower and improve defense.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Pickleball Drama and Player Movements
01:16 Paddle Market Insights and Player Choices
05:14 Pro Player Sponsorships and Paddle Preferences
08:08 Speculations on Player Paddle Deals
14:49 Emerging Paddle Brands and Player Transitions
20:08 The Rise of Culty Paddle Brands
20:53 Family Affairs in Sponsorships
21:39 Impact of Paddle Changes on Performance
23:33 Mental Aspects of the Game
25:01 Rick Witsken's Journey into Pickleball
29:10 The Evolution of Pickleball Tournaments
32:37 Signature Shots and Techniques
36:58 Advice for Amateur Players
39:19 Final Thoughts