Ben Shelton expressed his frustration with certain on-court interviewers during his Australian Open post-match press conference, accusing them of making disrespectful and mocking comments. Shelton, who reached his first Australian Open semifinal after defeating Lorenzo Sonego in four sets, was particularly critical of remarks made to him and other players.
The American star referenced an incident where he was told that Gael Monfils, aged 38, was “old enough to be [his] dad.” He was also upset by a comment made after his quarterfinal victory, where he was told that “no one would root for him” in his upcoming semifinal against either Jannik Sinner or Alex de Minaur.
Shelton emphasized that this wasn’t an isolated issue, pointing out that Novak Djokovic recently boycotted an on-court interview after feeling disrespected by comments made by Channel 9 host Tony Jones. Although an apology was issued and that situation was resolved, Shelton believes such disrespect continues.
“I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don’t think that was just a single event,” Shelton said. “I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself.”
Shelton also mentioned Learner Tien’s post-match interview after defeating Daniil Medvedev, calling it “embarrassing and disrespectful.” He urged broadcasters to collaborate more on helping the sport grow, highlighting the importance of respectful communication.
While Shelton admitted that it “may be true” that he might not have many supporters in his semifinal match, he felt it was inappropriate for someone he didn’t know to make such a statement. The 22-year-old stressed the need for more respectful interactions, particularly during post-match interviews.
Shelton will face Jannik Sinner next, as the world No. 1 secured his spot in the semifinals by defeating Alex de Minaur.
