Beating one of the best players in the world doesn’t happen by accident.

When Alex Crum stepped on the court against Ben Johns, most players would’ve felt the kind of pressure that makes your paddle feel heavier and your hands a little tighter. But Alex had a different mindset that day. It wasn’t about chasing perfection. It was about believing he belonged.

And that belief made all the difference.

“Take it. Don’t expect him to hand you the match.”

That’s what Alex kept telling himself throughout the match.

It wasn’t about waiting for Ben to make mistakes; it was about taking his opportunities, playing bold, and trusting his shots.

“I was happy with the way I performed at the end of the match,” Alex said. “The last four or five points were the most confident shots I hit in the entire match.”

That mental shift  from hoping to win to deciding to win was his secret weapon.

‍Do Pros Feel Pressure? 

Absolutely. But the difference is they’ve learned how to play through it.

When Alex Crum stepped on court to face Ben Johns, he wasn’t immune to nerves. He says he felt both confident and pressured at the same time.

“I felt confident because I knew I could win. But there was pressure too; if I didn’t perform well, people would question whether my first win was a fluke.”

For Alex, that pressure actually fueled him, proving himself became extra motivation.
But here’s the important part: that doesn’t work for everyone.

According to Concordia University’s Study on the “The Role of Sports Psychology in Athletic Performance,” sports psychologists recommend to:
👉 Find the type of pressure that helps you — and avoid the kind that hurts you.

For some players, added pressure sharpens their focus.
For others, it tightens them up and ruins their natural game.

If pressure holds you back, shift your attention to something you can control: your breathing, your footwork, your strategy, or even just enjoying the moment. Your focus is yours to choose.

From “Who’s That Guy?” to “He Beat Ben Johns”

The first time Alex faced Ben, he was virtually unknown.

“I was just desperate to prove that I could compete amongst the best,” he said. “I was more nervous in that first match. Going into the second one, win or lose, I just wanted to play well.”

And that’s what growth looks like. The first time, you’re proving something to others. The next time, you’re proving something to yourself.

Forget the Ratings — Focus on the Rally

Even players at Alex’s level feel that little jolt when they see a higher DUPR next to their opponent’s name.

“I’ve lost to players with lower DUPR and beaten players with higher DUPR,” he says. “You have to try to block that out and treat every opponent with the same focus and intensity.”

And let’s be honest… we’ve all been there.
You check someone’s DUPR or look at the expected score on the Forecast Tool, and suddenly your whole mindset shifts. For some players, the match is half-lost before they even step onto the court.

But as Alex reminds us, the best players in the world don’t let numbers define their ceiling. They don’t obsess over who’s favored.
They chase consistency.
They focus on execution.
They compete for every rally, not every rating point.

That’s what separates the good from the great.

The Takeaway

Alex’s story isn’t just about beating Ben Johns ; it’s about learning how to show up when it matters most.

Whether you’re playing your first DUPR event or your hundredth, the takeaway is simple:

•  Don’t wait for your opponent to make mistakes — go for it.
•  Play every point as if it was the last one.
•  And believe that you belong.

Because confidence isn’t something you find. It’s something you build, one rally at a time.