Ben Shelton details his evolution over the past year leading up to the US Open and confirms he is eager to play again in his favorite tournament.
Ben Shelton is one of the great hopes of American tennis at this US Open. Born in Atlanta 21 years ago, Ben already has the experience of reaching the semifinals of his country’s major tournament in the last edition, where he fell to Novak Djokovic. Although he has not obtained the expected results in some recent tournaments, Shelton has talked on Media Day about how he faces the pressure and his enjoyment of playing in front of his home crowd.
- First match against a former champion: Dominic Thiem
“I love playing these important matches. It’s sad to see this being Domi’s last Grand Slam because when I was getting into tennis, he was one of the players I watched on TV every week. Whenever you play against a former champion in a tournament, especially a Grand Slam, it’s a special experience and a tough challenge. He held the trophy here, something not many people in the world can say they’ve done. I think fans will love this matchup; I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest.”
- Improvements in the last year
“I think I move a lot better than 52 weeks ago. I believe I’m a better and more consistent baseline player, more complete, and also better at the net. I think I have improved in almost every aspect. Another thing I’ve improved on is my professionalism. I think I do a better job day in and day out, doing things right. Results aren’t always immediate, but they are there.”
- On withdrawing from the Olympics and whether tennis should adjust its calendar
“It’s challenging to compare with other sports because they revolve around the Olympics, which is their most significant event. Historically, players give more importance to Grand Slams than the Olympics… That’s our sport. It’s a great event that brings together many athletes; it would be good to have more space in the calendar for the Olympics, but I’m not sure how that would happen.”
- Situation of American tennis
“Having a group like Reilly, Tommy, Frances, and Taylor all coming up at the same time, nearly the same age, is unheard of in any country, especially with three out of those four in the TOP 20. I’m very excited to be part of this, to be on the path. My tennis upbringing was a bit different from theirs, but I think it’s proof that there are many different ways to succeed here in the USA. There’s a lot of credit to the culture we’ve built here with American tennis and the USTA.”
- Good week in Cincinnati
“One of the things I liked most about my style of play in Cincinnati is that the conditions were tough. It was a very fast court, a lot of wind, not easy for anyone to play there. There were many complaints about the conditions, and I think I did a great job adapting and adjusting. So I think adapting to different surfaces, different conditions on the fly, is crucial in our sport because we don’t always use the same balls or play on the same surfaces.”
Ben Shelton will debut at the US Open 2024 this Monday, August 26, against a former winner of this tournament, Dominic Thiem, in the first session on Arthur Ashe court at 18:00 (Spanish Peninsula time). The match will have an eerie atmosphere, as the Austrian player could play his last Grand Slam match against Ben.
