The images went around the world in just minutes. With division of opinions included, it was still surprising that Novak Djokovic had “copied”, as the Serbian said, Ben Shelton’s celebration and executed it after beating the American at the 2023 US Open.
Ben Shelton began making that gesture of hanging up a call to celebrate his triumphs from the beginning of the New York Grand Slam in honor of one of his teammates from the university league, although in another sport. Specifically, he saw Grant Halloway, an athlete who has won the world championship for three consecutive years. Ben explained that it was his home phone in Atlanta that, when he was little, he used to talk to his friends.
It was Ben’s first time in a Grand Slam semi-final and he faced Novak Djokovic, who arrived as a favorite. The Serbian already left some signs of discontent towards his rival during the match due to his celebrations, so, once the victory was closed for Novak, Djokovic decided to make the phone gesture to the American. Although Ben downplayed it from the first moment he was asked, Bryan has a different opinion.
Bryan Shelton’s harsh words towards Novak Djokovic
“Novak wants to be loved so much. He wanted to make fun of Ben at the end of the match, he didn’t do it just to copy him, it was to make fun of Ben. And it’s a shame that that comes from such a great champion,” explains Bryan Shelton, Ben’s father in an interview with GQ Magazine. Ben did not give much thought to the gesture, but it seems that the gesture did not sit well with his father and coach, who could see it from the stands of the Arthur Ashe and who dedicated some strong words to Djokovic, recent winner of the US Open 2023.
2023-09-15 13:32:31
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