Christian Alshon wasn’t worried about how he was going to hold up physically Thursday in Denver.
He was more concerned about how his brain would react.
Yes, the temperatures were warm on singles day Thursday at the Denver Open, and of course, the altitude can affect even the best of players, but Alshon wasn’t worried about all that.
He even looked different. No longer sporting long hair, Alshon cut it off. No longer fashioning his traditional sleeveless shirt look, Alshon was more buttoned up, going with a collared shirt.
“Physically, I could be out there for four or five games,” he said. “But it’s mentally staying in there and not hitting dumb shots, which I usually do.”
Known for his ability to pull off spectacular shots, Alshon is also known to have a questionable shot selection that includes going for winners, highlight reels, and OMG-inducing decisions instead of playing it safer and smarter.
Thursday, Alshon did a bit of both. He changed his look and his game to some extent, too, earning his way into Championship Sunday for the first time, capping off an impressive week.
Alshon, as the event’s No. 7 seed, topped Jaume Martinez Vich, 11-3, 12-10 in his semifinal, coming back from an 8-3 deficit in game two. Alshon took down second-seeded Federico Staksrud in the quarterfinals on his way to Martinez Vich and will face No. 1 Ben Johns in the final Sunday.
Alshon made his way to the PPA pressroom to take questions after his big win, crediting his performance with putting less pressure on himself and playing loose.
On the other side of the draw, Johns didn’t drop a game all day and allowed just 11 points total to his opponents in the quarters and semis, including an 11-3, 11-1 victory over Quang Duong, who was making his first appearance in the semifinals after an epic run through the draw.
Alshon has won bronze twice on tour in singles, despite only having played pickleball for a year. He was also drafted into the Premier League of Major League Pickleball earlier this week, after having a stellar first half of the season in the MLP Challenger League.
Notably, Alshon beat Johns the last time the two played.
What’s he going to have to do to win this time out?
“A lot of things,” Alshon said, “But I have a lot of faith.”
Vich went on to beat Duong for the bronze medal, 11-0, 12-10. It’s the second medal on tour for Vich this season and his second medal in the past three tournaments. He’s one to keep an eye on.
Watch the action from singles day at the Oh Snap! Denver Open on the PPA Tour YouTube channel
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