Could the "I want it and I can get it" mindset be the only thing that he lacks and need to build prior to Shelton acquires his first slam title?
- Thread starter dpli2010
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Bride of Alcaraz
Semi-Pro
Maybe 
When I heard how offended he was at the most inoffensive jokes (told by the courtside interviewers), it made me think he lacks mental toughness.
And then when he played Sinner, he was doing everything right UNTIL he had a chance to win the set - then everything fell apart!
When I heard how offended he was at the most inoffensive jokes (told by the courtside interviewers), it made me think he lacks mental toughness.
And then when he played Sinner, he was doing everything right UNTIL he had a chance to win the set - then everything fell apart!
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Shelton has plenty of confidence. It looks like he went into yesterday's match with a game plan, and when it didn't quite work out in the first set, he wasn't sure how to adjust. Sinner just steamrolled him from there.
The fact that he had two breaks in that first set is a great sign for him. The fact that he wasn't able to replicate any of that success afterwards suggests he wasn't committed to his game plan.
TheGoldenEra1990’s
Hall of Fame
You can “get it” by just things falling into place, injuries to key guys. I mean look at this we got mug slamless Zverev into another slam final where he will only get whalloped again since he barely squeaked out a set against Djoker on one leg.
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
I actually wonder whether there's a chance that this tournament is the last time Shelton ever breaks new ground at a slam. He's now made the SF of both hard-court slams. I think I'd bet that he'll never make a hard-court slam final and thus that he won't ever better his best previous performance at either the AO or the USO again. (He'll probably make further SFs at one or both again).
He's obviously much weaker on clay and grass than he is on hard, but his records at RG and WI are weaker, so there's probably room for improvement there. His best run at RG is to R3, and he'll probalby make R4 one day. His best run at WI is to R4 and he has a good shot of making the QF there one day, and perhaps the SF.
I'd bet against him ever making a slam final. Stranger things have happened, of course.
He's obviously much weaker on clay and grass than he is on hard, but his records at RG and WI are weaker, so there's probably room for improvement there. His best run at RG is to R3, and he'll probalby make R4 one day. His best run at WI is to R4 and he has a good shot of making the QF there one day, and perhaps the SF.
I'd bet against him ever making a slam final. Stranger things have happened, of course.
Bride of Alcaraz
Semi-Pro
That's what I think too...
I've never seen a player go from maximum confidence to zero confidence so quickly.
Went from full power and full accuracy, to nursing the ball and missing wildly... all within a few seconds.
And he had no mental scars, but now he does
This is why sports psychologists are so valuable!
He'll either be fragile in big moments for his whole career, or he'll get help and find a solution.
gamelovergold
Semi-Pro
Fear of failure is dangerousThat's what I think too...
I've never seen a player go from maximum confidence to zero confidence so quickly.
Went from full power and full accuracy, to nursing the ball and missing wildly... all within a few seconds.
And he had no mental scars, but now he does
This is why sports psychologists are so valuable!
He'll either be fragile in big moments for his whole career, or he'll get help and find a solution.
But fear of sucess is more dangerous.
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
That was indeed a weak performance from a strong looking kid. The OP has a point.
Benny can be great. He and carlos could benefit from a sip of the stoic potion Nolé guzzles.
i would love to see benny develop Mentally.
Benny can be great. He and carlos could benefit from a sip of the stoic potion Nolé guzzles.
i would love to see benny develop Mentally.
He needs to stop w the loopy forehand. It doesn't have the same effect as nadal's. I also think he needs to come in more behind his serve. Watched the highlights vs sinner, and I'm not sure there's one of him finishing at the net. Seems like he's pinned at the baseline too much.
dpli2010
Semi-Pro
He's only 22, his take-off timing is not as early as Alcaraz or Sinner and may not getting close just yet, but I would bet he can figure something out...
dpli2010
Semi-Pro
I agree if you meant his loopy forehand is not as aggressive and accurate, which needs improvement and I think he is able to make that happen; as far as approach the net, yes with his serve speed, but with 6'4" + ~200 body build, can he?
His opponents know that he will play a loose game or two, or a loose string of points, at some point during a match and there's always a chance to come back against him even when he is in the lead. No real fear factor. My college coach once said to me 'concentration is like a muscle, you have to build it'. He needs to build his level of concentration
I'm no analyst, but the guy is a couple of years out of college and to me; still largely undisciplined; and yet he is hanging in the top 20. He's still got a ton of upside, in my opinion. He wastes enormous amounts of energy with erratic shot choices and playing points from 15 feet behind the baseline. If he emulates Sinner (or Iga) and plants his feet on the baseline; shortens up his take back on both sides (particularly the slice backhand); and gets way more aggressive with the transition game, he'll get to another level. If he doesn't, to me he looks a lot like a Shapo- which is nothing to be ashamed of. All of his "deficiencies" can be addressed if he wants to deal with them. He's a long way from being a finished product.
I actually think the opposite of this thread. Shelton must have great confidence and at least decent mental toughness for him to have made 2 hardcourt slam semis already in his career!
I say that because his fundamentals are what seems lacking. Especially his ground strokes, which can breakdown so easily, because his contact point is always different no matter how much time he has! He actually hits better when he doesn't have time, which shows he has a lot of innate talent but little stroke discipline. He's like the reverse of Zverev, who has rock solid fundamentals but lacks mental toughness.
All I can think is that his team is happy with his progress and focusing on his physical development. However, I definitely think he needs some outside expertise to focus on his ground game.
I say that because his fundamentals are what seems lacking. Especially his ground strokes, which can breakdown so easily, because his contact point is always different no matter how much time he has! He actually hits better when he doesn't have time, which shows he has a lot of innate talent but little stroke discipline. He's like the reverse of Zverev, who has rock solid fundamentals but lacks mental toughness.
All I can think is that his team is happy with his progress and focusing on his physical development. However, I definitely think he needs some outside expertise to focus on his ground game.
Honza
Semi-Pro
His tennis is so limited, without a very good draw, he is not going anywhere near the last 4 in a major. He is a fighter tho.
Maybe he should focus more on tennis and less on the show.
I dont think a launcher like the Ezone is the best stick for him. He gets a lot of power, but he is lacking control.
Maybe he should focus more on tennis and less on the show.
I dont think a launcher like the Ezone is the best stick for him. He gets a lot of power, but he is lacking control.
Tennfan123
Legend
Shelton gives me too strong happy to be here vibes.
VanDerVaart23
Semi-Pro
He improved his return game this slam.
Next step is to make him rally longer, missing too many shots long/wide.
I'd also like to see someone else in his box, someone with more experience that could bring him more tennis IQ
Next step is to make him rally longer, missing too many shots long/wide.
I'd also like to see someone else in his box, someone with more experience that could bring him more tennis IQ
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
That was arguably the biggest positive from my eye test, apart from a more disciplined approach to follow the (good) game plans.
Will have to look at the stats sheets today.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Too small a sample size, compared to a surface mix but nothing to indicate that he made a big leap in his return game. Probably 2025 a bit undervalued due to higher quality opponents but still...
SHELTON Tour-Level Seasons Top
Mouse over column headers (on all tables) for stat definitions. Click on years for results from that season.Year | M | Win% | Set% | Game% | TB% | MS | Hld% | Brk% | A% | DF% | 1stIn | 1st% | 2nd% | SPW | RPW | TPW | DR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 71.4% | 62.5% | 51.7% | 55.6% | 7 | 90.0% | 14.0% | 8.2% | 2.9% | 65.4% | 73.9% | 57.8% | 68.3% | 32.0% | 50.5% | 1.01 |
| 2024 | 68 | 61.8% | 56.8% | 52.0% | 47.1% | 68 | 89.0% | 14.8% | 10.9% | 3.8% | 69.0% | 75.5% | 54.5% | 69.0% | 32.5% | 50.8% | 1.05 |
| 2023 | 49 | 51.0% | 51.8% | 50.2% | 52.9% | 49 | 84.3% | 16.1% | 11.9% | 5.1% | 63.8% | 75.8% | 51.5% | 67.0% | 32.7% | 50.1% | 0.99 |
| 2022 | 6 | 50.0% | 52.9% | 50.3% | 33.3% | 6 | 89.7% | 12.4% | 11.2% | 5.4% | 58.6% | 79.0% | 54.3% | 68.8% | 31.4% | 49.8% | 1.01 |
| Career | 130 | 57.7% | 55.1% | 51.2% | 49.0% | 130 | 87.3% | 15.1% | 11.1% | 4.3% | 66.3% | 75.6% | 53.5% | 68.2% | 32.5% | 50.5% | 1.02 |
a10best
Legend
The guy did an Exo in NY against Alcaraz as if Ben won a slam already or was the top ranked American. I think he'll be another top 15-30 player.
Never even won a masters or made final yet.
Maybe he gets hot and makes a slam final like Anderson because of his serve.
imo, he is a long way from winning any slam unless his draw is easy and he plays another American in the final. * --> Serious asterisk.
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dpli2010
Semi-Pro
Ability to endure long rallies seems to be a must for any player nowadays, Alcaraz is relatively small and Sinner is slim... Shelton should make himself a solid baseliner, is that it?
VanDerVaart23
Semi-Pro
What I could see this slam, he's getting there. Although as mentioned here more mental strength to capitalize important points and more tennis IQ
He's still get chances, but I'm a full believer he needs someone else in his box. His dad is not enough what do you think?
dpli2010
Semi-Pro
So I guess that brings up this very question: Are these the value of some one sitting in your box- get you into the top 10 tier, help you stay there and seize any opportunity to upset any one in front you so that you keep moving up and meantime keep yourself from being upset? I certain see that in Sinner/Cahill, and God knows what Federer's tennis IQ is with so many years of his box being seen no none else but his wife and parents, and maybe a couple close friends and later his twin daughters/sons...
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