Ben Shelton has the potential to be a BETTER player than Andrew Roddick

Kralingen

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
There I said it. I watched Roddick since the beginning and I’ve been watching Shelton for the last 4-5 years and I can tell you the American has a higher ceiling than the American. He's a very special talent. For starters, I think Shelton is a better baseliner and mentally stronger when compared to Roddick. Yes I’m aware of what happened in USO 2023 so don’t bother mentioning it, cause it happens, and I’ve seen enough of Shelton to know he’s one tough motherf*cker. Even Djokovic himself admitted the guy is tough as nails after struggling against him and copying his celebration after nearly losing a set.

I have no doubt he’ll achieve great things in the future; however, I don’t think he’ll have the same success Roddick had. Shelton’s generation is way more talented than Roddick’s generation so unfortunately for him, he won’t have Roddick’s luxury as the competition will be fierce. Federer, Hewitt and Baghadatis are really nothing compared to Medveved, Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz. Besides, Shelton seems like a guy who has other interests in life than to keep hitting a ball until he’s 45 years old like Roddick. Anyways, that’s not the point.

The point is I believe The American Prometheus has what it takes to take Roddick’s game to the next level. He'll be performing and playing tennis at a higher level. That he’ll do should he put in the effort. His backhand and RoS still leave a lot to be desired and not at Andy’s level yet but he’ll get there. Roddick kept improving even in his 30s so Ben has a lot of time ahead of him to improve.

One more thing, I’m not sure of this but I can see him becoming even a more popular player than Roddick in the future. Two reasons, he’s better looking and more active in the social media, all what’s left is success which is coming his way soon!

#Your heard it here first.
Bump it in a few years.

Cheers
747194.jpg
 
I’d put Ben Shelton ahead of Federer.

And since Federer=Roddick, by substitution, we get Shelton>Roddick.

In 2021, FAA crushed peak Fed in Halle,which is Fed’s best tournament and his best surface. Now granted, that was peak FAA as well. But I think Shelton is pretty much at peak FAA’s level now. Time will tell.
 
Pheasant said:
I’d put Ben Shelton ahead of Federer.

And since Federer=Roddick, by substitution, we get Shelton>Roddick.

In 2021, FAA crushed peak Fed in Halle,which is Fed’s best tournament and his best surface. Now granted, that was peak FAA as well. But I think Shelton is pretty much at peak FAA’s level now. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
That goes without saying. We’re talking about a guy who burst into tears because he couldn’t return Rafa’s puffball lefty serve out wide to his BH at 100mph.

Now, with Shelton that same lefty serve is coming in at 145mph on the gun.

What happens next? Who knows, but I do know it ends with “Game, Set, and Match Shelton”
 
Kralingen said:
There I said it. I watched Roddick since the beginning and I’ve been watching Shelton for the last 4-5 years and I can tell you the American has a higher ceiling than the American. He's a very special talent. For starters, I think Shelton is a better baseliner and mentally stronger when compared to Roddick. Yes I’m aware of what happened in USO 2023 so don’t bother mentioning it, cause it happens, and I’ve seen enough of Shelton to know he’s one tough motherf*cker. Even Djokovic himself admitted the guy is tough as nails after struggling against him and copying his celebration after nearly losing a set.

I have no doubt he’ll achieve great things in the future; however, I don’t think he’ll have the same success Roddick had. Shelton’s generation is way more talented than Roddick’s generation so unfortunately for him, he won’t have Roddick’s luxury as the competition will be fierce. Federer, Hewitt and Baghadatis are really nothing compared to Medveved, Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz. Besides, Shelton seems like a guy who has other interests in life than to keep hitting a ball until he’s 45 years old like Roddick. Anyways, that’s not the point.

The point is I believe The American Prometheus has what it takes to take Roddick’s game to the next level. He'll be performing and playing tennis at a higher level. That he’ll do should he put in the effort. His backhand and RoS still leave a lot to be desired and not at Andy’s level yet but he’ll get there. Roddick kept improving even in his 30s so Ben has a lot of time ahead of him to improve.

One more thing, I’m not sure of this but I can see him becoming even a more popular player than Roddick in the future. Two reasons, he’s better looking and more active in the social media, all what’s left is success which is coming his way soon!

#Your heard it here first.
Bump it in a few years.

Cheers
747194.jpg
Click to expand...
I can only watch him punt abc forehand in the net for so long man
 
Shelton is going to be a question of mental fortitude. He has the technique, fitness, and drive. But it seems a lot like he depends on the momentum a bit too much. If he builds up that mental strength, he could be a real force in the future.
 
Kralingen said:
I’ve been watching Shelton for the last 4-5 years.
Click to expand...
I'm curious how or why you'd be watching Shelton at age 15, unless it was on a public court in Gainesville. Or age 16 for that matter, unless you're a friend of the Shelton family. Since none of his matches were televised, how did you see him play that long ago?
 
Kralingen said:
That goes without saying. We’re talking about a guy who burst into tears because he couldn’t return Rafa’s puffball lefty serve out wide to his BH at 100mph.

Now, with Shelton that same lefty serve is coming in at 145mph on the gun.

What happens next? Who knows, but I do know it ends with “Game, Set, and Match Shelton”
Click to expand...
In all seriousness, I hope that Shelton, or any American, can get to world #1 someday. We are approaching 20 years now, which is ridiculous.
 
But you can't win slams if you make unforced errors so regularly or play streaky tennis.
Winning 7 straight matches and best-of-5-sets, makes it all about discipline.
That's why tennis is such a mental sport, you need the IQ to properly utilize your talent.
 
Maybe but not better than Chang or even Jim Courier.
People have to learn that one lucky run in to a slam semi is not an indication of future performance.
In Masters he sucks. Stop this nonsense. ay best, he'll be like Rublev losing in 3rd or 4th rounds.
I'll still take Tiafoe or Fritz over him next match.
Shelton has a target on his back since he was disrespectful to Tiafoe and Novak.
 
Kralingen said:
There I said it. I watched Roddick since the beginning and I’ve been watching Shelton for the last 4-5 years and I can tell you the American has a higher ceiling than the American. He's a very special talent. For starters, I think Shelton is a better baseliner and mentally stronger when compared to Roddick. Yes I’m aware of what happened in USO 2023 so don’t bother mentioning it, cause it happens, and I’ve seen enough of Shelton to know he’s one tough motherf*cker. Even Djokovic himself admitted the guy is tough as nails after struggling against him and copying his celebration after nearly losing a set.

I have no doubt he’ll achieve great things in the future; however, I don’t think he’ll have the same success Roddick had. Shelton’s generation is way more talented than Roddick’s generation so unfortunately for him, he won’t have Roddick’s luxury as the competition will be fierce. Federer, Hewitt and Baghadatis are really nothing compared to Medveved, Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz. Besides, Shelton seems like a guy who has other interests in life than to keep hitting a ball until he’s 45 years old like Roddick. Anyways, that’s not the point.

The point is I believe The American Prometheus has what it takes to take Roddick’s game to the next level. He'll be performing and playing tennis at a higher level. That he’ll do should he put in the effort. His backhand and RoS still leave a lot to be desired and not at Andy’s level yet but he’ll get there. Roddick kept improving even in his 30s so Ben has a lot of time ahead of him to improve.

One more thing, I’m not sure of this but I can see him becoming even a more popular player than Roddick in the future. Two reasons, he’s better looking and more active in the social media, all what’s left is success which is coming his way soon!

#Your heard it here first.
Bump it in a few years.

Cheers
747194.jpg
Click to expand...
Would be great if it turns out to be true
 
The same was said about Donald Young, no.

IMO, if there is one American who could emulate or better Roddick’s career, it’s Korda. Time will tell.
 
I don't think he'll have as accomplished a career as Roddick, but I see a future in which he has a bigger impact on American tennis. I am rooting for him because he is the best chance American tennis has at having a star that casual sports fans will gravitate to. People will try tennis out because of Shelton. The better he does, the better for American tennis--even moreso than Fritz, Foe, Paul, Korda, etc.

Keep in mind he's been committed to the pro life for only two years. Was playing challengers two years ago. His growth has been tremendous, and while there will be peaks and valleys, it's tough to say what his ceiling will be.
 
Why have we not evaluated their physical appearance against each other? I would say in terms of attractiveness to the opposite gender, while both score very highly on this measure, Roddick is definitely a cut or two above. Sharper features, less tied to the context of his generational aesthetic.
 
a10best said:
Maybe but not better than Chang or even Jim Courier.
People have to learn that one lucky run in to a slam semi is not an indication of future performance.
In Masters he sucks. Stop this nonsense. ay best, he'll be like Rublev losing in 3rd or 4th rounds.
I'll still take Tiafoe or Fritz over him next match.
Shelton has a target on his back since he was disrespectful to Tiafoe and Novak.
Click to expand...
Not since Roddick has there been an American player who reached the quarterfinals and semifinals of Major tournaments at a young age.
I think his future is promising but as always, it will depend on him having the dedication to continue learning and polishing his virtues.
:D
 
If you're from UK , US and Australia - you need just one decent run in Slams/one good win over top player to get hyped to the level of slam winners. But hype can't carry you all the way. You are bound get exposed as time passes. We have seen it in case of Kyrgios and Tomic etc. Shelton is just next addition to the list of overhyped players.
 
Yes but he played really badly on slow court. And he's in dire need of a professional coach instead of just his father who has no experience in winning slams.
 
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