Ben Shelton responds to Novak Djokovic accusing him of ‘disrespect’

Ben Shelton needs to maneuver on from the Novak Djokovic saga after the tennis legend copied his ‘phone down’ celebration. The American achieved the perfect results of his burgeoning profession when he contested his very first Grand Slam semi-final on the 2023 US Open towards the World No. 1.

The 21-year-old gave all the pieces however in the end suffered a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) defeat because the Serbian went on to develop into a 24-time main winner. But Djokovic’s actions on the finish of the match raised eyebrows as he imitated Shelton’s celebration that went viral earlier within the event.

The 36-year-old initially stated he “loved” the celebration and thought it was “very original”, however throughout an interview with French news outlet L’Equipe earlier than his Australian Open title defence, his opinion had modified, and never for the higher. The 10-time champion at Melbourne Park stated he carried out the celebration in entrance of Shelton after he did not “behave properly, with respect, on the court docket, and earlier than the match”. 

After commencing his Australian Open marketing campaign with a win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut, Shelton was requested about Djokovic’s feedback and he didn’t need to dwell on the matter any longer. “I don’t really have anything else to say on the whole US Open situation,” the youngster said in his post-match press conference.

“I feel like I’ve been asked about it constantly in the last four or five months. I feel like I’ve said my piece on the matter. I would rather just let it settle and move forward. We’re in Australia now, and we’re at the Australian Open and not the US Open anymore.

“I’m just focusing on the Australian Open and happy and grateful to be here. I feel like I enjoy myself out on the tennis court. Everyone can have their opinion on who I am or how I act. But, yeah, I don’t know. I don’t have an answer to your question.”

The No. 16 seed produced one other thrilling attacking show on court docket 2 to defeat the valiant Bautista-Agut in straight units. Shelton smashed 53 winners and dedicated 40 unforced errors in a 6-2, 7-6 (2), 7-5 win, as he transformed his lone break level of the third set to finish the competition.

He sealed victory in two hours and 46 minutes and can face Australian Christopher O’Connell in spherical two at Melbourne Park. “He [Bautista-Agut] doesn’t give you much or show much out there. That was pretty interesting to see,” Shelton stated. “I think he did a great job trying to not give me what I wanted with the forehand, and I was trying to do the same to him.

“So, yeah, it was a good battle.” He is on a collision course with Djokovic within the fourth spherical, who got here by his longest first-round match at a Grand Slam since 2005 after beating teenager Dino Prižmić in 4 units. He will play Alexei Popyrin, one other dwelling favorite, in spherical two.