Ben Shelton’s frustration with his ongoing rivalry with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic intensifies, as he strongly yearns for resolution. In the US Open semi-finals of the previous year, the American and Djokovic engaged in a less-than-friendly clash, marked by the Serbian’s controversial ‘phone down’ gesture as he secured victory.
Djokovic defended his actions, attributing them to Shelton’s provocation and perceived lack of on-court and pre-match respect, stating, “This is my reaction to a provocation that came from the other side… I react if anyone places himself in the ‘unsportsmanlike zone.'”
Shelton, maturely responding to Djokovic’s comments after triumphing over Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open, chose to distance himself from the US Open incident, asserting, “I don’t really have anything else to say on the whole US Open situation.” He expressed a desire to shift focus to the current tournament in Australia, emphasizing gratitude for the opportunity.
Despite persistent inquiries about Djokovic’s behavior, Shelton remained composed, concentrating on his Melbourne aspirations. Reflecting on his progress since the previous year, he highlighted improvements in baseline play and reduced reliance on his serve, noting, “I feel like I’ve made some strides in certain areas of my game compared to last year.” Shelton acknowledged enhanced shot tolerance, crediting it to facing formidable opponents across different surfaces.
However, avoiding Djokovic-related discussions may prove challenging for Shelton if he advances, setting up a potential fourth-round clash with the 10-time Australian Open champion. Djokovic’s less-than-convincing performance in the first round against Dino Prizmic has sparked speculation among tournament contenders that the tennis maestro might be losing some of his aura of invincibility.
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