Christian Alshon Reveals Harsh Lessons: Christian Alshon shared his experience facing Ben Johns during the PPA Denver finals. The match took place on Sunday, but with no confirmed start time, Alshon spent hours waiting. When the game began, he struggled to find rhythm, ultimately losing in straight games, 11-1, 11-2.
Match Day Challenges
Alshon arrived at the venue at 10:30 AM, unsure of his match time. He warmed up with a backboard session, helped other players, and hit a few points with Dylan Frazier. Still, when it came time to play, he didn’t feel ready.
“Playing on a Sunday is different. You don’t have earlier matches to build into it—you’ve got one shot, and that’s it. If I could do it over, I’d play for two hours in the morning, rest, and go again before the match. What I did just didn’t work.” – (Alshon)
Facing Ben Johns’ Precision
From the first point, Ben Johns dominated. His movement, height, and shot choices pressured Alshon. In contrast, Alshon made errors that cost him.
“I made some bad decisions—like running around my backhand when I shouldn’t have, or popping up returns that should’ve stayed low.” – (Alshon)
Johns’ shot placement and anticipation made a difference.
“Even when I hit decent shots, he was already there. I’ve never had someone read me that well before.” – (Alshon)
Altitude and Execution Issues
The match was also affected by Denver’s high altitude, which changed how the ball moved. Alshon noted how it impacted his serve.
“You can’t put as much shape on the ball, so you have to drive it more. Ben has it dialed—he hits it right at the legal limit for height and keeps it piercing. I hit mine too low, like a tennis forehand.” – (Alshon)
Match Pressure and Fast Pace
Alshon began feeling the pressure as the match continued. He tried forcing winners instead of sticking to smart plays. Ben repeatedly exploited Alshon’s backhand side.
“I wasn’t getting my drops down, my returns floated, and I let the moment get too big. And it all happened fast. I waited six hours for a 16-minute match. That’s… absurd.” – (Alshon)
Growth Through Loss
After the loss, Alshon called it his worst singles defeat ever. He admitted that reviewing the footage was painful but necessary for growth.
“This was the worst singles loss of my career—11-1, 11-2. I usually get something valuable from watching film, but this time it just stung. I need help. What did I do wrong? What did he do right? What can I learn?” – (Alshon)
He added that being open about his weaknesses helps him improve.
“I’m not afraid to admit my weaknesses because it forces me to improve. I want opponents to find my flaws so I can fix them.” – (Alshon)
Looking Ahead
Despite the result, Alshon acknowledged that learning from top players is part of the journey. Johns’ strong performance provided key lessons.
“Even though he knew my game, a lot of people do. That doesn’t mean they can execute. But Ben did, and now I know what I need to work on. If he watches this analysis, he’ll know even more. It’s layers on layers.” – (Alshon)
News in Brief: Christian Alshon Reveals Harsh Lessons
Christian Alshon shared details of his PPA Denver finals loss to Ben Johns, citing tough prep, altitude issues, and mental errors. He lost 11-1, 11-2 but saw the match as a major learning moment. Alshon hopes to grow by identifying and fixing the flaws Johns exposed.
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