Ben Shelton discovers the right shots and expressions to leave his impression:
The 22-year-old is confronted with one of the most formidable challenges in tennis: defeating Jannik Sinner on a hard court. However, his growth both on and off the court has been remarkable.When Taylor Fritz reached the US Open final four months ago, he became the first American man to compete in a Grand Slam singles final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
This achievement reignited hope among tennis fans in the United States that the long-standing drought in American men's tennis might be coming to an end. Now, with Ben Shelton on the brink of a potential finals appearance at the Australian Open, it seems a new generation of American male players is poised to make a significant impact.
It is worth noting that American women have consistently excelled in major tournaments without such struggles.This year's Australian Open has highlighted the emerging depth and potential of several young American talents, including 19-year-old Learner Tien, who defeated Daniil Medvedev en route to the quarter-finals, and 20-year-old Alex Michelsen, who also advanced to the fourth round after eliminating two top-20 players. Together with seasoned players like Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, they form a supportive and competitive group that is encouraging one another to reach new heights. However, for Shelton to secure a spot in Sunday’s final, he must first tackle the daunting task of overcoming the current titan of tennis, Jannik Sinner, on a hard court.
The world No. 1 has displayed remarkable dominance in Melbourne this year, and Shelton will need to deliver a bold and focused performance to achieve an upset. The two have faced each other five times, with Shelton winning their initial match, but Sinner has since claimed victory in the last four encounters, winning nine consecutive sets against Shelton. It is important to note that Shelton is just two years past his impressive rookie season in 2023, during which he advanced to the quarter-finals in Melbourne and the semi-finals in New York.
Although he experienced a bit of a sophomore slump in 2024, Shelton is consistently refining his game and has shown strong performance in his first five matches, despite facing a challenging draw. For the 22-year-old to have a chance against Sinner, he must avoid the tactical errors that his friend and fellow American Fritz made during the US Open final against Sinner. Attempting to overpower Sinner from the baseline, as Fritz did in New York, is likely to lead to frustration and defeat. In addition to his ability to deliver 140 mph serves and execute powerful groundstrokes, Shelton possesses a robust transition game and has developed into an excellent volleyer.
This skill set will be crucial for him to execute nearly flawlessly in order to overcome Sinner. Shelton has an advantage in this area and must capitalize on every opportunity to take control at the net. Moreover, he should aim to draw Sinner forward and prevent him from utilizing his exceptional lateral movement. Consistency will also be key; while Shelton is a talented shotmaker, he can sometimes make poor decisions. Striking the right balance between aggressive play and recklessness will be a challenging task.
Additionally, Shelton should diversify his impressive serving strategy. With the inherent advantage of being a left-handed player, he should mix in some short, soft serves, particularly in the ad court, to disrupt Sinner’s rhythm and pull him off the court. Sinner thrives on pace and repetition, making it essential for Shelton to adopt a tactically varied approach throughout the match. It will be intriguing to observe whether the audience will play a significant role in the upcoming match.
Sinner, who embraces the villain persona as demonstrated during his victory over Fritz in New York, effectively silenced the enthusiastic Australian supporters with his commanding performance against local favorite Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, allowing only six games.
Regarding the fans, the announcer who interviewed Shelton on the court following his quarter-final win against Lorenzo Sonego suggested that the crowd might not favor Shelton in the semi-finals. Shelton responded, “I know I’ve got a few people out in the crowd who are going to be pulling for me, too.” During his post-match press conference, Shelton remarked that the interviewer’s perspective on fan support “may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life.”
Shelton concluded by stating, “I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and assist these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage in enjoying one of their biggest moments. I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change.”
Shelton’s articulate and direct remarks regarding the media reflect his readiness to express his views and contribute to the ongoing narrative surrounding the event, particularly the contentious relationship between the Australian press and several players, including the notable discord between Novak Djokovic and Channel 9.
On Friday night in Melbourne (late Thursday night in the US), Shelton aims to let his racket do the talking as he seeks to dethrone the reigning champion and position himself as a formidable contender among America’s emerging male tennis talents.
A New Year’s Resolution You Can Actually Maintain :
In recent years, I have adopted a singular principle regarding New Year’s resolutions: refrain from documenting them in any form. Avoid posting them on social media, jotting them down on a sticky note for your bathroom mirror, or saving them in your phone’s notes app. The likelihood of adhering to your resolutions is slim, and if you don’t record them, you’ll likely forget you ever made them by the time next December rolls around.
I have come to realize that attempting to negotiate with your future self is futile—this is the version of you that may no longer be invested in goals like writing a play or reading fifty books in a year. Don’t let their lack of follow-through become your own. Moreover, even if you only manage to read nine books in 2025, you will still be nine books wiser than you were in 2024.
In the meantime, here’s a proactive step you can take to counteract future-you’s potential lack of dedication: support the Guardian’s initiatives in 2025. By doing so, you will be championing independent journalism at a time when it is critically important, and I assure you that we will never send you reminders to practice your Italian.
