AO’23 R16 Men’s Singles: J.J. Wolf (USA) vs Ben Shelton (USA)

Winner winner?


  • Total voters
    15
  • Poll closed .

stringertom

Bionic Poster
The 4R match we all expected and looked forward to when the draw was made 10 days ago. Ohio State vs Florida #1 players within the last four years. Big bomb lefty serves vs crafty righthanded aces bending to near the deuce court sideline after bouncing in the ad court service box.

Should be a cracker of a match with that college enthusiasm on display from both players. There is a Wolf Pack to rival the Ben Brigade.

Hope it goes 5. One will be in a slam QF. That’s two rounds better than Wolf’s regular slam result and Shelton will be overachieving by 4 wins vs his sole slam at USO’22.

Who ya got?

Discuss or disgust.
 

tennis24x7

Hall of Fame
Yeah we have seen lots of people suddenly making 3 or 4th round once and then fizzle out, unless they can go to the semi-final I am not buying the wolf/shelton hype.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Yeah we have seen lots of people suddenly making 3 or 4th round once and then fizzle out, unless they can go to the semi-final I am not buying the wolf/shelton hype.
Shelton basically wrote his name in the history books by rising from #560 to live-ranking 65 in a shade over a year. Watch him play and tell me that serve and his other supporting skills won’t take him well past the current ranking.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Shelton basically wrote his name in the history books by rising from #560 to live-ranking 65 in a shade over a year. Watch him play and tell me that serve and his other supporting skills won’t take him well past the current ranking.
You make a good point. I rolled my eyes at the numerous "Shelton's gonna be the next big thing" threads earlier this year, but only because I'd never heard of him or see him.. But I watched his matches against Popyrin and Jarry and was impressed. The kid's got some game! But we have to consider the level of his opponents. Put him out there against a top 5 guy to see what he does then.
 

PistolPete23

Hall of Fame
JJ Wolf's game has matured over the past 6 months. He's always been able to hit as hard as anyone else on tour, but he's more patient constructing points now, only going for big shots when the moment is right. His straight sets win over Diego demonstrated that.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
You make a good point. I rolled my eyes at the numerous "Shelton's gonna be the next big thing" threads earlier this year, but only because I'd never heard of him or see him.. But I watched his matches against Popyrin and Jarry and was impressed. The kid's got some game! But we have to consider the level of his opponents. Put him out there against a top 5 guy to see what he does then.
Second slam, first trip outside U.S., 4 slam matches (3-1), beat Sonego and Ruud back-to-back in Cinci last summer. He will get his chance to play a top 10 player if he makes the SFs and AdM does not, thanks to the extreme thinning of Section 8. Should he advance tonight it wil be to play the Paul vs Bob A Goo winner.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
The 4R match we all expected and looked forward to when the draw was made 10 days ago. Ohio State vs Florida #1 players within the last four years. Big bomb lefty serves vs crafty righthanded aces bending to near the deuce court sideline after bouncing in the ad court service box.

Should be a cracker of a match with that college enthusiasm on display from both players. There is a Wolf Pack to rival the Ben Brigade.

Hope it goes 5. One will be in a slam QF. That’s two rounds better than Wolf’s regular slam result and Shelton will be overachieving by 4 wins vs his sole slam at USO’22.

Who ya got?

Discuss or disgust.

Why are there two threads?

 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Shelton playing for "family member who has gone deepest in a Slam" - Pops has a R16 result. Seb Korda can never win that competition in his family, only tie it.
 

atatu

Legend
Just show the freaking match already ESPN ! We don't need to hear Blake and Woz banter for an hour.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Why are there two threads?

Didn’t see yours. Sorry. Must have dropped off page 1 when I scanned the titles.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Just show the freaking match already ESPN ! We don't need to hear Blake and Woz banter for an hour.

I can't recommend enough ESPN+ for majors on ESPN. $10 and you have access to every match. Separate stream for every match - never have to worry about studio chatter, overlong basketball games, main ESPN/ESPN2 not picking the match you want. And it's very easy to cancel and resubscribe whenever you want.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
In before the regular head cases object to the Wolf nutmeg ball dribble. Isner and Shapo were escorted out early to avoid complete nervous breakdowns from this feeling it’s somehow objectionable.

Wolf saves a BP, the first of the match.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Ben serves to get into the TB. Wolf actually has more aces (7 to 4). Shelton’s FH has been his best weapon but that volley combo on Wolf’s service point was a sign he can play with more than the serve plus one.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
It’s really nice to hear Mike Cation on the air for competition above his normal excellent Challenger coverage. He and Roger Rasheed are discussing a lot that the “celebrity” talking heads never get into.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Leave it to knowledgeable Mike Cation to explain Shelton had been bastardizing the Spanish “Vamos!” self-cheering for months. He adds the “h” to the end of the word, almost like it’s “Another game for Milosh!” Seinfeld skit. Vamosh!
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
God I can't stand the constant interaction between some players and their boxes. Alas, it's here to stay, so no use complaining.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Impressive hold by Wolf from 15-40, using big service bombs and a nice swinging volley put away on one BP. Probably the best game of the match so far.
 
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