Ben Shelton has shifted from being a showman to focusing on winning his matches.
He climbed the tennis ladder with a personality similar to Kyrgios, Monfils, and Tiafoe, all known for their entertaining styles. Coming from the chaotic world of college tennis, he thrived in energetic environments. His semi-final match against Djokovic at last year’s US Open was a prime example of this vibe.
During that match, Djokovic played the villain role while Shelton engaged the crowd . Despite Shelton’s efforts, Djokovic had the last laugh and celebrated by mimicking Shelton’s signature “hang up the phone” move after winning. This moment went viral across sports even though Shelton admitted he didn’t invent it.
Changing Focus:
Shelton’s reaction was intense; his father mentioned that Djokovic wanted to mock him. Since then, Shelton toned down his showmanship to concentrate more on victory. This shift paid off as he ended the year strong by winning the Japan Open in Tokyo and achieving other milestones.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Ben Shelton | 22 | 2,590 | 19 - 11 |
Fans might think it’s good he’s maturing as a player.
Reflecting on his growth after a second-round win at the 2024 US Open, he said: “Yeah, I think that was just kind of me being myself. Me giving some shout-outs to my friends.” He emphasized staying true to himself despite how others perceived his actions.
Many players go through similar transitions; even Djokovic used to impersonate fellow players but stopped quickly. Shelton noted: “Choose your moments when you want to do certain things… It’s just kind of spontaneous.”
Learning from experiences like playing multiple five-set matches at Wimbledon or dealing with rain delays has been crucial for him. He shared: “Okay, when the US Open comes, maybe I’m not going to play doubles.”
Shelton sees this as part of his evolution: “It’s a learning process for me… Not that anything I did last year was bad or negative.”
What do you think about Ben’s journey so far?
