"He’s got the weapons but needs to use them better": Tim Henman critiques Ben Shelton’s game after Australian Open defeat

Friday, 24 January 2025 at 20:00

Tim Henman addressed the issue that led to Ben Shelton's defeat against Jannik Sinner and his elimination from the Australian Open. The 22-year-old American star played his second Grand Slam semifinal but struggled against an impressive Sinner, who won in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2.

Shelton had two set points in the first set while serving at 6-5 after securing a break but failed to close it out. In the tiebreak, the Italian demonstrated superior composure. From that point, the match tilted heavily in Sinner’s favour, leaving Shelton unable to respond.

Shelton’s game style fell short against Sinner

One of Shelton’s greatest strengths since emerging on the Tour has been his powerful and unpredictable serve. However, his numbers were below par this time, landing just 59% of his first serves. “His biggest weapon is his first serve, and I don’t think he uses it as well as he can,” Tim Henman told Eurosport. “They played probably 210 or 215 points in the match in total; half of those are going to be on his serve."

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“He served and volleyed three times in the whole match. He came to the net 25 times, and when he came to the net, he won 17 points. So that’s close to 70%, but in the context of 215 points, coming to the net 25 times – that’s one in nine.”

“I think this is where he is so young, he has so many weapons, there are so many pieces of the puzzle, but to me, he has got to use them a little bit better,” the former world No. 4 added. “Going toe to toe at the back of the court against Sinner, I think, is the toughest task for anyone, and that to me is not Shelton’s game style.”

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Shelton exits the tournament with positive momentum and a significant climb in the ATP rankings, placing him as world No. 14 starting Monday. The young American (2,980 points) is just 150 points shy of breaking into the top 10, currently held by Andrey Rublev in 10th place with 3,130 points. Shelton also becomes the No. 3 American, overtaking Frances Tiafoe (No. 18), with only Taylor Fritz (No. 4) and Tommy Paul (reaching a career-high No. 9 on Monday) ahead of him.

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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