Ben Shelton Criticizes Broadcasters Over Treatment Of Players After Reaching Australian Open Semi-Finals - UBITENNIS

Ben Shelton Criticizes Broadcasters Over Treatment Of Players After Reaching Australian Open Semi-Finals

Ben Shelton criticized broadcasters over their treatment of players after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals.

By Tony Fairbairn
6 Min Read
(@TheTennisLetter - Twitter)

Ben Shelton has criticised broadcasters over the way they have treated players after he reached the Australian Open semi-finals.

The American is into his first Australian Open semi-final after a 6-4 7-5 4-6 7-6(4) win over Lorenzo Sonego.

Shelton held his nerve when it mattered most as he defeated the Italian to reach his second Grand Slam semi-final.

After the match Shelton said what it means to be in the final four of a Grand Slam again and compared what the difference is between his game now and when he reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2023, “I’m not sure this is what I expected when my career started,” Shelton admitted in his press conference.

“I saw a stat, I think I’m 24 and 8 in the Grand Slams that I have gotten direct acceptance to, which is nine. I think I’ve played nine. For me it’s really special to be playing at these big tournaments and playing my best tennis at the big tournaments.

“For me the differences in my game is when I was playing here in 2023, US Open 2023, I felt like everything had to be perfect. I was red-lining. I was at my limits. I was hitting a lot of winners. I was serving amazing. Everything had to fall in line for that to happen, me to have those runs. Lately, especially in the matches here, everything hasn’t been perfect. I had one good serving day out of my five matches. I’ve had to pick up the slack with everything else in my game.

“I think I’m a much better returner right now than in the past. I’m winning in different ways, for sure.”

Next for Shelton is world number one Jannik Sinner on Friday as the American takes on his toughest test yet.

Speaking on the match Shelton admitted it is a ‘calculated risk’ to take risks against Sinner and won’t be completely red lining his game against the Italian, “I think it’s calculated risk. You have to choose your moments, still be confident in the things that you trust. I don’t think I’ll be redlining,” Shelton stated.

“If anything, I’ve been, in terms of my baseline play, a bit more conservative this tournament, okay with going deep in rallies. Probably have to step that up a little bit in the semifinals. But I don’t think that ‘redlining’ would be the term. I think that a more aggressive game style, that’s taking the ball a little earlier or serve and volleying more or taking first ball line and running in instead of, you know, hitting five or six forehands in a row.

“I think that I’m figuring out ways to make guys uncomfortable without just playing at my upper limits and slapping.”

Ending his press conference Shelton hit out at local broadcasters for making players uncomfortable.

Earlier this week Novak Djokovic and his fans were mocked by a Channel Nine presented which led to Djokovic boycotting the on-court interview for one match.

Meanwhile a reporter encouraged the crowd to boo Shelton while he was answering a question about his next opponent.

The American hit out a broadcasters and says the treatment of players must be better, “One thing that I just want to say before we’re done. I’ve been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters,” Shelton explained.

“I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself. I noticed it with Learner Tien in one of his matches. I think when he beat Medvedev his post-match interview, I thought it was kind of embarrassing and disrespectful that interview.

“There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, Hey, Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad. Or today on the court, Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?

“I mean, may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life. I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy 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.”

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