"Ben, whenever you're ready": Arthur Fils confident he would dominate Shelton in a 10-set clay battle
ATPTuesday, 21 July 2026 at 04:30
Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils have built a reputation as two of the ATP Tour's brightest young stars, but they also showed why they're among its biggest entertainers. A light-hearted ATP video quickly turned into one of the funniest exchanges of the week, with the pair publicly debating who would come out on top in an extended battle on clay courts.
The exchange came during the ATP's 'Nice or Spicy' challenge, where players had to either praise a fellow competitor or make a more controversial remark. When Fils' name appeared, Shelton opted for the "spicy" route, sparking a playful back-and-forth between two players who are expected to remain among the Tour's leading figures for years to come.
While the comments were clearly made in good spirits, neither player was willing to back down. Shelton questioned just how dominant Fils believes he is on clay, while the Frenchman confidently insisted that a lengthy practice match between the two would be far more one-sided than the American imagined. Before long, the friendly debate had escalated into an open challenge.
Shelton and Fils weren't the only players to leave fans laughing. The ATP feature also produced another memorable moment when Alexander Zverev recalled an unforgettable golf outing with Jakub Mensik during last year's Laver Cup, revealing how one disastrous opening shot convinced the Czech teenager to put his clubs away for the rest of the day.
Shelton and Fils challenge each other to a 10-set clay battle
Asked to say something controversial about Fils, Shelton praised the Frenchman's clay-court ability before suggesting his confidence might exceed reality. "Arthur Fils, great player. He's very good on the clay. He's great on the clay. But he thinks he's even better on the clay than he actually is."
Fils immediately explained that the pair had already discussed the hypothetical matchup away from the cameras.
According to the Frenchman, if they played ten practice sets under normal clay-court conditions, Shelton would only manage to win one or two. "I said to Ben, I think if we play in regular conditions on clay, in practice, and if we play 10 sets, he wins maybe one or two."
Shelton has a 4-7 record against top-30 opponents on clay courts in his career, although none against a top-15 opponent.
Shelton dismissed the prediction without hesitation, insisting Fils had gone far too far with his confidence. "(He's) trying to tell me that if we play 10 sets in a row on clay, he beats me all 10? And I think that's bullshit."
Rather than softening his stance, Fils ended the exchange with a direct invitation to settle the debate on court. "Ben, whenever you're ready, you want, we do 10 sets and we see."
Alexander Zverev recalls Jakub Mensik's unforgettable golf disaster
The video also gave Alexander Zverev the opportunity to share one of his favourite stories involving Jakub Mensik. The German looked back at last year's Laver Cup, where he, Mensik, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud headed out together for a round of golf organised by the event.
With cameras and club members watching from the opening tee, Ruud, Alcaraz and Zverev all comfortably launched drives around 300 yards. Mensik, however, became increasingly nervous before finally stepping up for his turn.
"Jakub was getting very, very nervous. He was like, 'Maybe I shouldn't hit.' I told him, 'No, why? We're here just for fun. It doesn't matter.'"
Unfortunately for the Czech, the encouragement didn't help. "He tees it up, takes a three wood, hits underneath the ball. The ball just goes straight up into the air and lands literally three feet in front of him."
According to Zverev, the embarrassing shot completely ended Mensik's day on the course. "That was the last shot he'd take all day. He didn't take another golf swing. The entire day was just riding with us in the golf cart."
The German couldn't resist finishing with one final joke. "His tennis game was a bit better than his golf game. We still told him, 'Just play, have fun.' He was like, 'No, no, I'm good guys.'"
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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