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Shelton Struggles Continue in Washington
5 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Every since his stunning Australian Open quarterfinals run, Ben Shelton has been a marked man and struggled to sustain the momentum created in January in Melbourne.
After the five set loss to Tommy Paul, just one set away from a Grand Slam semifinal, the 20 year old Shelton has seen his fortunes reversed. His match record since Melbourne is 7-16 and 10-18 on the year.
Now that the American, who is ranked 43 in the world is expected to win and contend for Grand Slam and 1000 titles, his success has faltered.
After a second round loss at Wimbledon to Laslo Djere in four sets (after a five set win in first round vs. Taro Daniel), Shelton lost his first match in Atlanta and Washington DC to Chinese 18 year old Juncheng Shang.
Since Australian Open Shelton has also lost his first matches in Mallorca (to Christopher Eubanks 67 in the third), Roland Garros (Lorenzo Sonego in four sets), Geneva (Marco Cecchinato 26 in the third), Rome (Bublik 26 in the third), Madrid (Struff 57 in the third), Monte Carlo (Dimitrov 36 in the third), Miami (Mannarino 16 in the third), Acapulco (Rune 26 in the third), and Delray Beach (Giron 46 46).
Since Shelton signed an endorsement contract with ON, which was announced on March 20 before Indian Wells, he is 7-15.
Shelton also made another questionable move in hiring his father, former ATP pro Bryan Shelton as his full time coach in early June. Bryan Shelton left his job as University of Florida tennis coach – where he won the NCAA title in 2022 – to travel full time with Ben. Bryan Shelton, a former Newport champion and top 60 ATP player, replaced Ben’s previous traveling coach Dean Goldfine.
Ben Shelton will hope to stabilize his bittersweet 2023 in Canada, Cincinnati and US Open.
AO · Ben Shelton · Bryan Shelton · Mubadala Citi Open · on · Yonex
5 comments
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Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2023 at 9:25 am
Interesting comments by Ivan Ljubicic saying young players do not watch enough tennis, just seeing match highlights isn’t enough Looby says. Citing Andy Murray’s extended study and deep analysis of watching Djokovic vs Alcaraz Wimbledon final.
“This is for the ‘manual’ on HOW to watch tennis matches if you’re a player. Today I find that young players are not watching enough tennis. If anything, highlights, which obviously don’t say anything about the match. So much can be learned from matches of other players” twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2023 at 9:28 am
Dean Goldfine has been involved in the development and emergences of Sebi Korda and Ben Shelton but he was dropped when they made it to the big show. He also coached Todd Martin and others. Valuable coaching asset.
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2023 at 3:03 pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas would rather be world no.1 than win a Grand Slam: “I would trade a Grand Slam title to be no. 1. It’s something special and a sign that you reached the maximum in your career and I love when you’re able to maximize everything. That way, one day I can tell my grandchildren I was no. 1.”
Cory · August 4, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Johnson has made a Challenger semifinal, will face Sandgren. Both ranked about 200 desperate for momentum. 90 points will go a long way when you’re 200. IDK, winner probably rise up to 100-125?
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2023 at 9:04 pm
Yes good job by both Sandgren and Johnson to hang in there, they have fallen on hard times but not ready to quit yet.