Christian Alshon and Ben Johns will team up for the first time this week at the PPA Tour Asia Panas Malaysia Cup in Shah Alam. The new partnership headlines the men’s doubles draw, where they will enter as the top seeds in a field featuring several other strong teams. Main draw action begins Thursday and will stream live on Pickleballtv.
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A New Team on the Big Stage
Christian Alshon and Ben Johns have faced each other in men’s doubles eleven times this season across Professional Pickleball Association Tour and Major League Pickleball events. Now, they will join forces in Malaysia.
“It’s not every day you get a chance to play with Ben Johns. I think we should do well, but you never know. There’s definitely some good competition and it’s only getting better,”
Christian Alshon said of the opportunity to compete overseas.
Past Rivalry Adds Excitement
During his championship press conference at February’s Carvana Mesa Cup, Christian Alshon explained why he enjoys playing against Ben Johns.
“I like playing him in men’s because I can be in front of him, so I can kind of control what he does. He loves to attack, and I love to counter on the right, and I think that’s something I do very well.”(Christian Alshon)
Their past battles add intrigue to their debut as partners.
Strong Field in Malaysia
The men’s doubles lineup also features Tyson McGuffin and Eric Oncins as well as Zane Navratil and Armaan Bhatia. Christian Alshon enters as the top seed in men’s singles and will also play mixed doubles with his Texas Ranchers teammate Kaitlyn Christian, who holds the top seed in women’s singles.
Other notable pairings include Christian Alshon partnering with Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang and Anna Bright teaming up with Dutch player Roos van Reek in women’s doubles. Siblings Alix Truong and Jonathan Truong will compete together in mixed doubles, adding more excitement to the international event.
Significance of the Event
The Asia Panas Malaysia Cup brings some of the world’s best pickleball players to Southeast Asia, showcasing the sport’s global growth. Fans will watch closely to see how the new Alshon–Johns partnership performs against top-level competition. Their success could set the stage for future team appearances on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour.
News in Brief: Christian Alshon and Ben Johns
Christian Alshon and Ben Johns will play together for the first time at the PPA Tour Asia Panas Malaysia Cup in Shah Alam. The top-seeded duo joins a strong field featuring Tyson McGuffin, Eric Oncins, Zane Navratil, and Armaan Bhatia. Matches begin Thursday and will be streamed live on Pickleballtv.