Ben Shelton will be a big Story of the North American Hardcourt Swing

Will this prediction come true?

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InsuranceMan

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Everyone is making their predictions now for the rest of the year/NA HC Swing, and mine is the rise of Ben Shelton. Currently ranked 281, I’ve been watching him closely for a while. I keep tabs on all the challenger tournaments going on and watch a match here or there, and Shelton has impressed me. He made the QFs in Champaign, SFs in Little Rock, a quick blip in Orlando sure, but then finals in Rome and SF in Indianapolis. Currently at a career high.

With so many North American tournaments, I could see him picking up a seriously good amount of wildcards, like he’s just gotten in Atlanta, where he won his first match in straight sets. His dad is a former pro (high of 55), who became a super successful college coach, winning the championships last year. As such, Ben has been exposed to a higher level of tennis sooner than most, which I believe has toughened him up more than others too. There was a time when he would run his mouth at juniors and fold, but I believe with nothing to lose and a secure, successful position back at school, he can make some real moves soon. Plus American on home soil so good media coverage. Biggest liability I see is that he’s too American as a player. Thoughts?
 
Big strong lefty, definitely ready to start doing some damage. Could conceivably win some matches during the hardcourt summer. Would be shocked to see him return to Florida. It won't be a cakewalk but, if he does indeed go pro, I see him cracking the top 100 already next year, and moving upwards from there. I am confident he will eventually best his dad's 4R Wimbledon showing - probably sooner rather than later.
 
Baseline_Bungle said:
Big strong lefty, definitely ready to start doing some damage. Could conceivably win some matches during the hardcourt summer. Would be shocked to see him return to Florida. It won't be a cakewalk but, if he does indeed go pro, I see him cracking the top 100 already next year, and moving upwards from there. I am confident he will eventually best his dad's 4R Wimbledon showing - probably sooner rather than later.
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Lefty? Dropped
 
An older friend of mine knows him and, while he’s definitely biased, thinks he’s got what it takes to at least have a go and grind into top 125
 
InsuranceMan said:
Everyone is making their predictions now for the rest of the year/NA HC Swing, and mine is the rise of Ben Shelton. Currently ranked 281, I’ve been watching him closely for a while. I keep tabs on all the challenger tournaments going on and watch a match here or there, and Shelton has impressed me. He made the QFs in Champaign, SFs in Little Rock, a quick blip in Orlando sure, but then finals in Rome and SF in Indianapolis. Currently at a career high.

With so many North American tournaments, I could see him picking up a seriously good amount of wildcards, like he’s just gotten in Atlanta, where he won his first match in straight sets. His dad is a former pro (high of 55), who became a super successful college coach, winning the championships last year. As such, Ben has been exposed to a higher level of tennis sooner than most, which I believe has toughened him up more than others too. There was a time when he would run his mouth at juniors and fold, but I believe with nothing to lose and a secure, successful position back at school, he can make some real moves soon. Plus American on home soil so good media coverage. Biggest liability I see is that he’s too American as a player. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm in. Right until he gets overhyped. Then I'm out.
 
Adv. Edberg said:
Sounds like he could be the next Steve Johnson and crack top 50 40 when he’s his late 20s
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giphy.gif
 
So I tuned in to see him play Isner. Never seen him before. Some notes…

- shame in the first set TB, he actually got to SP at 6-5 on Isner’s serve with some nice returns, and had another one in the TB but as usual Botner erased them with unreturnables.

- I totally see it with this kid’s serve though. 100%. Lefty and uses it, really leans into the serve and gets some wicked power and spin when he goes out wide. His forehand too. Let’s just say he watched a lot of Fedal matches growing up bc he LOVES the topspin to da backhand, and it’s a weighty forehand. Sprays a bit though and lacks top end speed on his serve/strokes, he is no Shapo explosiveness wise.

- Athletic and animated, he has some muscle on him and plays with energy. He has some nice power on his shots and came to net instinctively a few times. Got that from his Dad I’m sure

- he seems to use the Rafa special deep return position. His shot tolerance isn’t bad but it’s clear he’s never seen serve or power like Isner’s before. gonna take time to adjust but he will almost certainly be top 100 soon permanently. No doubt in my mind.

Hope to see more of him later this summer.

edit: just broke isner straight off the bat in the second set. Hope it goes 3, he’s pretty entertaining to watch
 
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Kralingen said:
So I tuned in to see him play Isner. Never seen him before. Some notes…

- shame in the first set TB, he actually got to SP at 6-5 on Isner’s serve with some nice returns, and had another one in the TB but as usual Botner erased them with unreturnables.

- I totally see it with this kid’s serve though. 100%. Lefty and uses it, really leans into the serve and gets some wicked power and spin when he goes out wide. His forehand too. Let’s just say he watched a lot of Fedal matches growing up bc he LOVES the topspin to da backhand, and it’s a weighty forehand. Sprays a bit though and lacks top end speed on his serve/strokes, he is no Shapo explosiveness wise.

- Athletic and animated, he has some muscle on him and plays with energy. He has some nice power on his shots and came to net instinctively a few times. Got that from his Dad I’m sure

- he seems to use the Rafa special deep return position. His shot tolerance isn’t bad but it’s clear he’s never seen serve or power like Isner’s before. gonna take time to adjust but he will almost certainly be top 100 soon permanently. No doubt in my mind.

Hope to see more of him later this summer.

edit: just broke isner straight off the bat in the second set. Hope it goes 3, he’s pretty entertaining to watch
Click to expand...
How to watch?
 
Baseline_Bungle said:
pffft, your friend is biased in the wrong direction. He's ALREADY got that level - a few years in the pros should take him WAY beyond that. I expect him to trouble Isner as early as tomorrow.
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As usual, great call. I had never seen him but he’s a can’t-miss prospect, not a Slam winning talent but there’s a lot of raw materials here and he plays to his strengths well. Should be top 100 soon, I know Isner is an awful returner but he’s serving bombs and backing them up really nicely

just took the second set with a picture perfect service game to love
 
optic yellow said:
What do you mean by this? I interpret it as having a style that is weak and uncreative.
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Yeah kind of like you said. I find the American developmental style post-roddick to be pretty predictable. Big serve, big forehand, pretty monotone and not as versatile across surfaces as many of the other nations are (which is probably because of the clay vs. hard skew where juniors start). Obviously there are some exceptions. I think a little more depth to his game would be nice, some slice and adaptability, obviously some tennis IQ is always welcome, but that will develop as he gets more experience simply because the top is such a different level than he’s accostumed to at UF.
 
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I think Isner is just gonna go clutch bot mode and lock down his serve this 3rd set. Made a career off it, he’s certainly not going to stop now. Shelton has to stay focused on his own serve, lot of pressure on the young guy. Safe to say he’s never seen anything like Isner in youth tennis before.
 
Kralingen said:
I think Isner is just gonna go clutch bot mode and lock down his serve this 3rd set. Made a career off it, he’s certainly not going to stop now. Shelton has to stay focused on his own serve
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Isner can play at this level until 45 years old.
 
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