Alexander Crum’s Stunning Atlanta Run: Alexander Crum surprised everyone with his performance at the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships, where he reached the men’s singles quarterfinals. The event began on May 13 at Life Time Peachtree Corners. Crum, who was previously ranked outside the top 50, may no longer be allowed to enter future qualifiers because he played too well.
A Run No One Saw Coming
Alexander Crum, from Louisville, Kentucky, had to win three qualifying matches just to enter the main draw of the tournament. On Tuesday, May 13, he defeated Todd Fought 11-3, 11-2 in the Round of 128. Later that day, he stunned the top seed, Federico Staksrud, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6.
On Wednesday, May 14, Crum beat Mota Alhouni, the 27th seed, 11-1, 4-11, 11-7. Then on Thursday, he defeated 49th seed Zane Navratil 11-5, 4-11, 11-5 to move into the quarterfinals.
His impressive journey ended on Friday against a strong Dylan Frazier. Alexander Crum lost the match 10-12, 11-3, 3-11.
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Who Is Alexander Crum?
Alexander Crum is 33 years old and started playing pickleball just two years ago. He coaches tennis full-time in Jupiter, Florida, and only plays pickleball once a week.
As a teen, Crum was a four-star tennis player and ranked in the top 100 nationally in high school. He played tennis at the University of Dayton but left the team after one year. Crum later moved to Germany to coach tennis, then returned to the U.S. to work at high-level country clubs.
In a post-match interview with Michelle McMahon, Crum said he spends “9–10 hours a day” on the tennis court, five or six days each week. Crum is also a rapper. He released an album in 2022 called Just For Fun under the name AC Baby.
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A New Goal in Pro Pickleball
After finishing his coaching season, Alexander Crum decided to try pro pickleball full-time, starting in Atlanta. He made a strong first impression by reaching the quarterfinals and defeating top players along the way.
In the past 18 months, Crum has earned wins over top-level players like Pablo Tellez, John Lucian Goins, Marshall Brown, Grayson Goldin, Cason Campbell, Max Freeman, and Chris Haworth. According to PickleWave, these wins are impressive for someone who has only played part-time until now.
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Success Brings Complications
Before the Atlanta tournament, Alexander Crum was tied for 64th in PPA singles rankings with 400 points. His quarterfinal finish earned him another 400 points, though he will lose the 100 points from last year’s Atlanta tournament. That leaves him with 700 points and likely a ranking between 40 and 45.
Here’s the problem: players ranked in the top 50 cannot play in qualifiers unless they are signed to a PPA contract. To continue on the PPA Tour, Crum must now sign an exclusive contract or choose a different path.
Crum has three options:
- Sign a PPA exclusive contract.
- Play in PPA Challenger Series events.
- Compete in the APP Tour or other leagues.
When asked about his future, Crum said he’s serious about signing with the PPA, depending on the contract.
“I think I am capable of becoming a top 10 ranked singles player in the world, and if I want to prove that, I have to do it on the PPA Tour.” – (Alexander Crum)
What’s Next for Crum?
Alexander Crum is expected to play next at the 2025 Zimmer Biomet APP New York City Open. After that, his future is uncertain. All eyes are on whether he signs with the PPA or chooses a different path in the growing world of professional pickleball.
News in Brief: Alexander Crum’s Stunning Atlanta Run
Alexander Crum shocked the 2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships with a quarterfinal run, defeating top seed Federico Staksrud. His success may stop him from entering future qualifiers unless he signs a PPA contract. Crum, also a tennis coach and rapper, is now deciding his next move.