Ben Shelton took a strong stand against the treatment of players during post-match interviews at the 2025 Australian Open, calling out certain interviewers for making “embarrassing and disrespectful” comments. After his quarterfinal victory against Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton voiced his frustrations during the press conference, pointing out that he wasn’t the only player who had experienced unprofessional remarks.
Shelton’s comments come after an incident involving Novak Djokovic, who refused to participate in an on-court interview due to disrespectful comments made by a host from Channel 9. While the Djokovic case attracted headlines, Shelton emphasized that this wasn’t an isolated issue. He mentioned that he had personally faced similar treatment and cited examples, including an interview where he was told that Gael Monfils, aged 38, was “old enough to be your dad” and another instance where he was told no one would root for him in his upcoming semifinal match.
Shelton expressed his frustration, saying, “I don’t think the guy who mocked Novak was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself.” He referenced other players like Learner Tien, who he felt were subjected to disrespectful remarks after their matches as well. Shelton made it clear that while certain comments may contain a kernel of truth, they are not appropriate to be voiced in such a setting, especially by someone the players don’t have a personal connection with.
He ended his statement by urging broadcasters to be more mindful and to focus on helping the sport grow rather than undermining players with unnecessary jabs. Shelton’s bold comments have sparked a conversation about professionalism and respect in tennis media coverage.
