Only a select few players ever earn the distinction of being ranked World No. 1, and Hunter Johnson is among them.

In a recent appearance on the Pickleballers Podcast, Johnson shared deeper insights into the mental side of the game and the challenges that come with competing at the highest level.

“I worked so hard in my singles game to get to number one, and then you reach that pinnacle and you’re like, Ok, now what?” said Johnson. “It’s like Emma Raducanu in women’s tennis. She wins the US Open, and then she can’t do anything after because it’s almost a self-sabotage thing. You realize you did all these things to get there, you win all these tournaments, and then, all of a sudden you start to doubt yourself. Can I keep winning tournaments? Can I keep this level? Was it a fluke that I got here? All these different things go in your mind. Before, when I was losing in the second round all the time, I would get so negative.”

Johnson is one of the more expressive players on tour. He doesn’t hide his emotions, whether it’s frustration or excitement, and he’s far from difficult to read during a match. Over time, he has learned how to channel those emotions and use them to his advantage rather than letting them work against him.

“Before, when I was losing a lot, my emotions would get the best of me. It would be a slow steady decline of emotion, and my confidence would go down too. Now, I can show emotion more to release it,” he explained. “Maybe my body language doesn’t show it, but my mental game is strong in the sense that I can show emotion in my mind. I’m releasing that energy in my mind, and then I can reset super quick onto the next point.”

But the mental side of the game is always evolving, no matter how experienced a player becomes.

“This is an insight into my struggles. No one is perfect, and self-awareness is a huge thing that I’ve come to learn these last eight months of my life where I’ve reflected on my life and general things that have happened,” noted Johnson. “As you get older, it’s very easy to get cynical about life and not have perspective, not be able to grow or self-evaluate. It’s easy to be a victim, self-sabotage, and not own your crap. Bad things happen to you—it could be your fault, it could not be—but there’s always a lesson to be learned. I think that’s where my faith comes in.” 

Johnson has often shared how his faith helps keep him grounded on the court and reminds him of his greater purpose.

At the same time, he believes showing emotion isn’t just beneficial for his own performance, it also adds to the experience for the fans watching.

“I’m definitely working on trying to be a little bit steadier emotionally. My body language tends to get floppy sometimes, but I like to show emotion out there,” he mentioned. “I think it’s boring if you're not showing emotion. I think the crowd likes it. I’m throwing in some jokes here and there, and that seems to keep me a bit looser. I’ll figure it out eventually. It’s a work in progress.”

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