Ben Shelton to Djokovic : "I want this guy to know that I’m going to be back"

[Razer]

“Okay, I may not win this match. But I want this guy to know—I want the crowd to know—that I’m here to play. And that I’m going to be back,” he told GQ.

“When I woke up that morning, I felt the nervousness in my stomach, just knowing that it would be the biggest match I’ve ever played,” he stated.

"I think the two weeks as a whole was a good run for me. A lot of positives to take away for the rest of the year and going into next year. It was really fun playing my final slam of the year here and doing well in front of the American crowd. That's pretty special for me," he said at a press conference in New York.

"Yeah, not the outcome I wanted in the match [against Novak Djokovic]. Some things to be disappointed about in the outcome, but a lot of positives to take, too. I'm just really looking forward to getting back to work and getting back out there," he added.

"I want this guy to know that I’m going to be back" - Ben Shelton looks back on his defeat to Novak Djokovic and his US Open 2023 performance

Ben Shelton had a memorable run at the 2023 US Open, where he became the youngest American semifinalist in 30 years.

www.sportskeeda.com

 

[Djokodalerer31]

HAhaha He makes it sound like Novak is the only one he has to worry about...like there were no Medvedev, Alcaraz or even the likes of Zverev, Sinner, Rune, Ruud or Tsitsipas, who are potentially higher level than him and who can still beat him at slams! LOL what an absolute clown! Okay i'll admit Tsitsipas is a bit of question mark these days and Zverev ain't exactly there just yet either...but i would still bet on them when they in-form and are highly motivated...

 

[nawoo]

I'm more excited about Alex Michelsen than this guy

Also support Chris eubanks more cuz of his ohbh and flair on the court

this guy just irritates me.

 

[Razer]

HAhaha He makes it sound like Novak is the only one he has to worry about...like there were no Medvedev, Alcaraz or even the likes of Zverev, Sinner, Rune, Ruud or Tsitsipas, who are potentially higher level than him and who can still beat him at slams! LOL what an absolute clown! Okay i'll admit Tsitsipas is a bit of question mark these days and Zverev ain't exactly there just yet either...but i would still bet on them when they in-form and are highly motivated...

Maybe Ben Shelton feels he was in the control of the match just like Djokovic felt against Nadal and Federer in 06-07 period.
We'll see if the arrogance can be backed up even though there is a 16 years age gap.

 

[dr325i]

Ben is good and it is great that he is learning from the losses and getting motivated instead of being down.
However, there is no time for him to "get back" at Novak.
Also, don't think he is on Novak's mind every morning when he wakes up....
A long way to go for the young Americano

 

[NoleFam]

This guy is beyond arrogant and most likely just bad parenting since his parents seem to think his behavior is something to be admired. He's not even on the same planet as Djokovic. You should have felt honored to even get to play him in Arthur Ashe stadium. Djokovic let you know to your face what he thinks of you because of your arrogance and over the top antics. You should really be focusing on your next tournament and your own peers who are already much better players, nevermind Djokovic who is someone you will never come close to reaching. This generation is really something else.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Ben is several tiers below Nole. He would next year get beaten by someone like Ruud I guess.

 

[nolefam_2024]

This guy is beyond arrogant and most likely just bad parenting since his parents seem to think his behavior is something to be admired. He's not even on the same planet as Djokovic. You should have felt honored to even get to play him in Arthur Ashe stadium. Djokovic let you know to your face what he thinks of you because of your arrogance and over the top antics. You should really be focusing on your next tournament and your own peers who are already much better players, nevermind Djokovic who is someone you will never come close to reaching. This generation is really something else.

True. Now I think what Nole did was great. Hang up on this arrogant man. Not a kid.

 

[jackson vile]

Who???

 

[daggerman]

Great attitude! If he backs up this talk by doing the work and improving, power to him.

 

[HBK4life]

I’m sure Novak is very concerned.

 

[Holmes]

Kid is only 20, and comes from the college tennis environment which is a breeding ground for arrogance of the most annoying, "c'mon!" type. I'm sure the more he's able to absorb the pro environment the better his attitude will be. Seems like a good kid at heart.

 

[btsjungkook]

Believe it or not, Novak would very much like to face this clown in grand slam finals instead of Alcaraz or Medvevdev. So Novak would definitely support this.

 

[Bambooman]

He should just call Djokovic if he wants him to know that.

Might get hung up on though.

 

[nawoo]

call the ambulance, but not for me.

 

[tennis4me]

There's some overlap between self-confidence and arrogance. This leans a little more to the arrogance. Great champion needs a little of both - hopefully a little less of the latter.

Much prefer Alcaraz's excessive fist pumps than this hang-up-the-phone gesture. Let's see whether he performs in the coming tournaments.

 

[JoshDragon]

He's just mad that Novak hung the phone up on him.

Ben Shelton is just another over-hyped player with a bad attitude.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Yeah, Ben's going to be back losing second round every tournament and never being heard from again while Novak continues winning slams at age 40.

 

[nawoo]

look at this ****ing idiot celebrating going 1-0 up in the second set

Celebrating a novak unforced error

 

[Shaolin]

Part of me likes his attitude and that he wants to take it to the top players.

Another part wants to see him get triple bageled by Novak next time

 

[Shaolin]

look at this ****ing idiot celebrating going 1-0 up in the second set

Celebrating a novak unforced error

Nole with the last laugh.

 

[HBK4life]

I hope I live to see the day when US men’s tennis stops being an endless clown car.

 

[btsjungkook]

I hope I live to see the day when US men’s tennis stops being an endless clown car.

Andy Roddick was a god compared to these mug next gen Americans.

 

[jm1980]

Still less annoying than Alcaraz

If he can tone down the celebrations just a notch, and learn to be more measured in his aggression, he'll be very fun to watch

 

[TheNachoMan]

We have already hung up on you, Benjamin.

 

[ChrisRF]

HAhaha He makes it sound like Novak is the only one he has to worry about...like there were no Medvedev, Alcaraz or even the likes of Zverev, Sinner, Rune, Ruud or Tsitsipas, who are potentially higher level than him and who can still beat him at slams! LOL what an absolute clown! Okay i'll admit Tsitsipas is a bit of question mark these days and Zverev ain't exactly there just yet either...but i would still bet on them when they in-form and are highly motivated...

I have a feeling that you are even too optimistic about him. After this year's SF he will most likely be seeded next year. That means he will have to win at least 2 matches before possibly meeting any of those players you mentioned (or at least 3 matches if he's Top 24 then). And this is already far from being a safe bet IMO.

 

[Fabresque]

Oh my god please shut up bro. You know how many players are better than you on tour? Don’t even worry about Djokovic, worry about everybody else. Beating Tiafoe who’s the worst top 10 player of all time doesn’t make you some sort of special player.

The media campaign to push Shelton as the next big thing is ludicrous, kids done absolutely nothing. No title wins at all. I don’t want to rag on him but when they talk about him winning slams when he literally couldn’t win 2 matches in a row until the US Open, it’s pretty easy to.

This is all Federer’s fault. He’s always been an arrogant man, now he’s polluting the youth. Fraud.

 

[joekapa]

Thus kid needs to be thrown out with the trash.

 

[tennis3]

Shelton played College tennis in 2021-2022 and is now ranked 19 in the world, playing in the quarters of AO and semis of USO.

I'd say he has cause to be a bit arrogant.

 

[Cerdany]

We have already hung up on you, Benjamin.

I was looking at that gif and just can't understand why Djokovic isn't popular.

 

[junior74]

I don't see the problem. Shelton's got game and may become a big champion.

They can't all say "It will be a privilege just to walk out on the court with a legend like Novak".

 

[btsjungkook]

I was looking at that gif and just can't understand why Djokovic isn't popular.

Coolest thing he's done actually.

 

[Jack the Hack]

Yeah, Ben's going to be back losing second round every tournament and never being heard from again while Novak continues winning slams at age 40.

I don't know if he'll never be heard from again, but I have to agree with what you said more than I can argue against it.

It's lots of tough talk from a guy with just a 17-21 record on the season who has never won an ATP tournament.

Shelton played College tennis in 2021-2022 and is now ranked 19 in the world, playing in the quarters of AO and semis of USO.

I'd say he has cause to be a bit arrogant.

Out of the 22 ATP level tournaments he has played this year, Shelton has only made it past the 2nd round twice... at the Australian and US Open. Almost all his wins on tour are to guys ranked outside of the top 50. He's not really come close to winning a tournament at the ATP level yet. While a QF and a SF showing in your 1st year on tour at 20 years old is nothing to sneeze at, it's also not a reason to be arrogant when he's been getting his ass kicked on a weekly basis most of the time and has a losing record on tour.

(And I say this as an American who wants to see him or any of the other young US players do well.)

 

[Crocodile]

A lot of these young guys need a mentor and consultant that builds their media presence as it’s so pervasive in our society now.

 

[tennis3]

Out of the 22 ATP level tournaments he has played this year, Shelton has only made it past the 2nd round twice... at the Australian and US Open. Almost all his wins on tour are to guys ranked outside of the top 50. He's not really come close to winning a tournament at the ATP level yet. While a QF and a SF showing in your 1st year on tour at 20 years old is nothing to sneeze at, it's also not a reason to be arrogant when he's been getting his ass kicked on a weekly basis most of the time and has a losing record on tour.

(And I say this as an American who wants to see him or any of the other young US players do well.)

I don't disagree with you. His AO and USO runs were a bit "fortunate" (and surprising).

But, a 20 year old that didn't go straight to the tour (playing in college) and is now ranked 19 in the world. That's just amazing.

I'd expect his ranking to fall significantly in the next year (when his AO and USO points come off). But what an amazing freshman year on Tour!

 

[chrischris]

A lot of these young guys need a mentor and consultant that builds their media presence as it’s so pervasive in our society now.

Do they?
Im not sure thats a good idea.

 

[TheNachoMan]

I was looking at that gif and just can't understand why Djokovic isn't popular.

It’s lonely at the top

 

[platypus50]

This arrogant brat needs to tone down his smug arrogance, he's not the best thing ever invented since sliced bread. His over the top celebrations whenever he wins a point and the way he gestures to the crowd for support are cringeworthy to say the least.

Congrats to him on making a great run to the USO semis (courtesy of the 3rd quarter of the draw opening up) but he has a very long journey ahead of him with much to learn.

 

[ppma]

HAhaha He makes it sound like Novak is the only one he has to worry about...like there were no Medvedev, Alcaraz or even the likes of Zverev, Sinner, Rune, Ruud or Tsitsipas, who are potentially higher level than him and who can still beat him at slams! LOL what an absolute clown! Okay i'll admit Tsitsipas is a bit of question mark these days and Zverev ain't exactly there just yet either...but i would still bet on them when they in-form and are highly motivated...

Well, to be fair. If he manages how to beat Djokovic convincingly, very few of those would be a threat.

 

[Hitman]

This guy....

LOL

Thanks for confirming what we already knew, Djokovic roasting you at the end of the match hurt more than losing the match.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Ben, have several seats.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

It's good to be confident, but bro is clearly delusional. Before worrying about Djokovic he should try to be at the level of other guys first. I don't remember even Zverev or Tsitsipas (who can be pretty full of themselves) making such arrogant statements when they were his age.

 

[MichaelNadal]

It's good to be confident, but bro is clearly delusional. Before worrying about Djokovic he should try to be at the level of other guys first. I don't remember even Zverev or Tsitsipas (who can be pretty full of themselves) making such arrogant statements when they were his age.

As long as he does all those antics and celebrations, I hope he loses every match lol. Out there acting like Jordan in the NBA finals

 

[Phoenix*]

 

[Razer]

Ben gets his stupidity from his dad, his dad is blaming Djokovic for doing the phone celebration.

"Too bad, for that to come from such a great champion" - Ben Shelton's father Bryan on Novak Djokovic 'mocking' the American at US Open

Ben Shelton’s father Bryan was less than impressed by Novak Djokovic ‘mocking’ his son’s celebration following their 2023 US Open match.

www.sportskeeda.com

 

[Crocodile]

Do they?
Im not sure thats a good idea.

Interested in reading what you have to say on the matter and how young players can better position themselves in professional sport.

 

[junior74]

Is this real?

Incredibly stupid thing to say
But I don't think what he said in the OP was that bad.

 

[nevermind]

Don't poke the bear, son. That is a beast that even legendary tennis players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray etc. struggled to tame(overcome), especially since his true arrival at the tennis scene in 2011. The one guy you don't wanna mess with and give him extra motivation.

"That fecking "nobody/guy" is Baba Yaga(Boogeyman, John Wick reference ). I saw him twice beating Rafael Nadal at the Roland Garros with a fecking racquet(pencil). A fecking pencil(racquet)! Who the feck can do that(cough, Soderling, once )?!

The bodies he buried (that day)during his career(all the opponents he has beaten) laid the foundation of who he is now - the GOAT.
Novak Djokovic will come for you, and there is nothing you can do about it, my son. "

I went over the top a little just for fun . I love John Wick movies and Keanu Reeves in general.

 

[Cerdany]

Is this real?

Incredibly stupid thing to say
But I don't think what he said in the OP was that bad.

Fake news.

 

[Rattie]

He said this?

What an idiot!