American tennis is finally in clear apogee crystallizing projects that previously remained in the inkwell. The last pearl of the country of stars and stripes that has come to the ATP circuit to stay and dazzle attends to the name of Ben Shelton, is left-handed, is 19 years old and from position number 229 in the world has already killed two established players in professional tennis such as Lorenzo Sonego and Casper Ruud at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. The Norwegian, recent semi-finalist in Canada and top5 in the world. The very young player from Atlanta has spoken in the press room about the notable influence of his father, Bryan Shelton, a former professional tennis player (55th in the world he became) and how he is coping with his first stakes on the great world tennis stages. He also declares his favoritism as a childhood idol.
Huge surprise to kill the 5th world player, Casper Ruud
“At the beginning of the match I didn’t feel comfortable at all, but I did try to do my best to be able to settle on the court. Already in the second set I hardly thought about who I was playing with and what it could mean. I just I tried to stick to my game plan and stick with it. I’m going to get more comfortable the more I go through these kinds of situations, lowering my heart rate and calming down more.”
The jump to the ATP circuit after the Challengers and the Futures
“I have realized that here on the circuit any player is really good. The margins are very small between the different tennis players, so I think it is the details, the preparation and how you take care of your body that takes on real relevance and makes a big difference. difference.”
Where is Ben Shelton most comfortable playing?
“I’ve never played a tournament on classic clay or grass. I only know the hard court. I couldn’t say exactly. But I really like playing on hard courts, I love these ones from Cincinnati, they are very fast. Although the ones that are slower I also go.”
The figure of his father, fundamental in the maturation of Ben Shelton
“Since you are a teenager, whether your father is a former tennis player or a former professional player, they know how to guide you and know what it takes. They know perfectly well that it is not a matter of a quick transition to the circuit but rather that it is rather a long process. “I have seen that this is the method of many former players who now train other boys. Long-term method, not immediate results. My father is teaching me all that. He didn’t even force me to play tennis professionally, I I liked football better when I was little. But he was very happy when I decided to dedicate myself completely to tennis.”
Your childhood idol, the one who has inspired you the most
“Without a doubt it has been Roger Federer that I have admired the most. Obviously Nadal would be the most logical choice because I am left-handed like him. But I love Federer’s class, that aura he gives off and how he achieves his triumphs and how he handles losses. He’s a role model on and off the court, how he relates to the press. I really enjoyed watching him play when I was a teenager.”
