ATP500 Japan Open, Tokyo 2023
- Thread starter Rattie
- Start date
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Congrats to Ben for his maiden win. He will win plenty more and it will be interesting how he improves in the years to come.
Poor Karatsev, driven to distraction (and racquet abuse !) when serving for the 5th game in the second set, and Shelton's superb forehand winner got the better of him! AK impotent against the power and finesse of his opponent.
An excellent win for BS. His first of many, no doubt.
An excellent win for BS. His first of many, no doubt.
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Winners or Errors
Legend
ON looking pretty smart at the moment...
mightyjeditribble
Legend
Well done to Shelton for his first title!
chuckersthenut
Hall of Fame
Booo
Mainad
Bionic Poster
In winning 2023 Tokyo, Shelton becomes:
1. The 6th player to win his maiden ATP title this season (after Griekspoor, Wu, Fils, Eubanks, Cachin).
2. The 1st player to win his maiden title at ATP500 level since Musetti (2022 Hamburg).
3. The 2nd consecutive American player to win in Tokyo after Fritz (2022) and the 1st since Sampras followed Courier (1996).
4. The youngest player to win in Tokyo since Hewitt (2001).
5. Part of the 4th father-son duo to win ATP titles in the Open Era (father Brian Shelton won back to back titles in Newport 1991-2).
1. The 6th player to win his maiden ATP title this season (after Griekspoor, Wu, Fils, Eubanks, Cachin).
2. The 1st player to win his maiden title at ATP500 level since Musetti (2022 Hamburg).
3. The 2nd consecutive American player to win in Tokyo after Fritz (2022) and the 1st since Sampras followed Courier (1996).
4. The youngest player to win in Tokyo since Hewitt (2001).
5. Part of the 4th father-son duo to win ATP titles in the Open Era (father Brian Shelton won back to back titles in Newport 1991-2).
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Good for Shelton. Doesn't have to worry about the tournament monkey that some young players do - even if they otherwise have good results. Box checked.
What is the qualifying standard for the US Olympic team? - rankings are getting tight with Fritz, Paul, Shelton, Tiafoe bunched up in the 10-15 range.
Quite a racket smash by Karatsev in the second set.
What is the qualifying standard for the US Olympic team? - rankings are getting tight with Fritz, Paul, Shelton, Tiafoe bunched up in the 10-15 range.
Quite a racket smash by Karatsev in the second set.
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chrischris
G.O.A.T.
Japan Oben.
Shelton played great all week.. Congrats!!
Shelton played great all week.. Congrats!!
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
Nice win for Ben Shelton. He might have a future.
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
Nice pick!!
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Couldn't watch as I was out all day escorting the kid to his own tennis commitments. But I just checked the highlights and... whoa! Did Shelton just suddenly tone down his whole attitude and persona for this one??? Didn't see a single fist pump or scream after any of the big points or breaks, and even his victory celebration looked rather tame. Heck, even is arms appeared to be covered...
Anyways, congrats on his first (and surely not last) title. And kudos to all the far-seeing visionaries in here who predicted a career as a challenger-level journeyman who'd never even sniff an ATP title.
Anyways, congrats on his first (and surely not last) title. And kudos to all the far-seeing visionaries in here who predicted a career as a challenger-level journeyman who'd never even sniff an ATP title.
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tennis24x7
Hall of Fame
US Tennis needs it. Hopefully this is not a flash in the pan and with no telephone crap I can root for him.
Moose Malloy
G.O.A.T.
Playing doubles with Evans tomorrow in Vienna, guess he's good to go. Karatsev also showed up in Vienna.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Tennis would certainly profit from more popularity in the US of A.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
I have been no fan of Ben, but his behavior in Japan and in Vienna has been exemplary. No annoying interplay between he and Daddy Bryan, no hanging-up-the-damn-phone gesture and showing mature behavior on court. Just as I couldn't stand people hating on Holger and holding it against him for his "homophobic slur" comment when he was 17, I won't hold Ben's cringe telephone crap against him and will give him another chance. Everyone makes mistakes and he's not repeating them. He's only 20, he's shown he can learn from his past behavior, which is a great sign. And I agree with everyone else, a top American in the mix is always good for tennis.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Hard to disagree on that. I only realised now that his uncle was the late Witsken which played the longest Wimbledon match before Isner-Mahut. Passed away with only 34, a decade before Ben was born...
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
Karatsev did show up but looked anything but fresh. Jaded, unfocused and generally exhausted, with huge bags under his eyes. Smashed his racquet already in the fifth game.
