Ben Shelton keeps his promise & withdraws instead of getting smoked by Matteo Berrettini in ‘Hotties’ clash

Ben Shelton Bows Out of ‘Hotties’ Contest to Avoid Matteo Berrettini Showdown

Ben Shelton hilariously withdrew from the Men’s Tennis Hotties Bracket contest, fearing a landslide defeat against Italian heartthrob Matteo Berrettini. Despite reaching the quarterfinals, the American opted out, admitting he stood no chance against Berrettini—who is as famous for his good looks as he is for his tennis prowess.

Shelton had previously “promised” to pull out if he made it past the first round, and former tennis star John Isner wasted no time reminding him. In a post announcing the quarterfinalists, Isner called out Shelton, prompting a playful response from the 21-year-old, who said he was ready to make his withdrawal official.

The Nothing Major Podcast, hosted by ex-players Isner, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock, organized the fun contest to determine the most attractive player on tour. Among the final contenders were Berrettini, Shelton, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul. But for Shelton, going head-to-head with the Italian was a battle he wasn’t willing to fight.

Matteo Berrettini Stuns Novak Djokovic in Doha

While Berrettini’s looks won him a place in the Hotties contest, his tennis has been making headlines too. The Italian pulled off a shocking victory over Novak Djokovic in the Round of 32 at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, defeating the 24-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets.

Djokovic had no excuses after the match, admitting that Berrettini simply outplayed him.

“I didn’t have any pain or discomfort. I was outplayed by a better player today. He played a masterclass match, tactically, and served very well—a very deserved win from his side.” (via ATP)

Berrettini’s run in Doha ended in the quarterfinals against Jack Draper, but he now shifts his focus to the ongoing Dubai Tennis Championships, aiming to build on his strong form.