In competitive pickleball, facing off against the top player on the planet is one of the most daunting tasks an athlete can encounter. However, a recent Major League Pickleball (MLP) mixed doubles matchup provided a masterclass in how to strategically challenge elite opponents.
The match featured the Chicago Slice’s Zayn Navratil and Mari Humberg going head-to-head with the legendary Anna Leigh Waters and her partner, Noah Cliff, playing for the New Jersey Fives. By breaking down the tactical decisions made by both sides, we can uncover valuable lessons about targeting, pressure, and the sheer will to win.
The Power of Tactical Targeting
When matching up against an elite player like Anna Leigh Waters, teams must look for any opening to gain an advantage. For Navratil and Humberg, entering the match as underdogs meant adopting a highly disciplined and disruptive strategy: aggressive targeting.
Recognizing Waters’ unparalleled skill, the Slice duo funneled a vast majority of their shots toward Cliff. This wasn’t a slight to Cliff’s abilities—he is a stellar professional player—but a necessary tactical adjustment when playing against the world number one.
Navratil and Humberg repeatedly tested Cliff’s backhand, aiming to disrupt his rhythm and force errors under the compounding pressure of the rally.
Deception and Court Agility
Beyond simple targeting, Humberg utilized highly effective mechanical deception to keep the opposition guessing. Throughout the match, she executed an excellent, hard-to-read roll shot. During these rallies, Cliff was forced to guess the direction of the ball, often anticipating a cross-court backhand only to be jammed up when Humberg rolled the ball down the line instead. This deceptive play allowed the underdogs to win crucial points and keep the score incredibly tight.
Additionally, Navratil and Humberg constantly mixed up their court positioning to give their opponents unfamiliar looks. Navratil, who traditionally commands the left side of the court, frequently switched to the right side to create defensive discomfort for Cliff and alter the angles of attack.
Navigating Mental Pressure
A major storyline of this high-stakes match was the mental game. Playing alongside a dominant figure like Waters comes with its own unique set of expectations. Every ball sent Cliff’s way carried massive weight, leading to moments where the pressure caused him to over-extend or push too hard.
Conversely, Navratil served as a stabilizing, positive anchor for the Chicago Slice, constantly encouraging Humberg and maintaining high team morale even when aggressive attacks narrowly landed out of bounds.
The Turning Point: “Respecting the X” and Late-Game Drama
As the match progressed into a nail-biting 9-9 tie and eventually pushed into overtime, advanced court concepts became the deciding factor. One notable defensive sequence highlighted the concept of “Respecting the X”—an imaginary axis connecting cross-court players. When Waters fired a fast ball along this axis, Humberg intelligently pulled her paddle back at the last second, allowing Navratil to handle the shot comfortably from behind.
However, playing against an athlete of Waters’ caliber means there is zero room for error. At 10-9, a missed return of serve from Humberg tied the game back up, shifting the momentum.
The Will to Win
While Navratil and Humberg executed their game plan beautifully, Waters proved why she is so dangerous—even off the ball. In mixed doubles, the ability to read the game and insert yourself into a rally is what separates the good from the great.
In the final moments of the 11-11 overtime, Waters began “hunting” the middle of the court. She asserted her dominance by stepping across the lane, intercepting the ball, and firing an unstoppable match-winning shot to close out the game 13-11.
Was the Strategy a Success?
Even though Navratil and Humberg ultimately lost the match, their tactical discipline proved that a well-executed plan can push the best players in the world to their absolute limits. By committing to relentless targeting, utilizing deceptive roll shots, and shifting court positioning, the underdogs transformed what could have been a lopsided affair into an overtime thriller.
