"I just wanted to play other sports": Ben Shelton initially wasn't drawn to tennis with first pro match being a turning point
ATP
Ben Shelton
revealed that he initially didn't like playing tennis too much but changed his
mind to become a professional.
The world
No. 19 was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 Shanghai Open
last week, facing his compatriot Sebastian Korda in a closely contested match
that was decided in the third-set tie-break. Korda won 6-7(10), 6-2, 7-6(6),
securing a spot in the semifinals.
Despite the
loss, Shelton also took home an impressive victory, this time in the third-set
tie-break, against world No. 4 Jannik Sinner. He won 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5). This
marked his first win against a top-10 player. The young American has been
having a dream season in 2023.
At just 21
years old, Shelton celebrated his birthday a week ago. This year, he is
competing in tournaments outside the United States for the first time. He
reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the US
Open, demonstrating his immense potential to be one of the best players for the
future.
However,
Shelton didn't always want to be a tennis player. He mentioned that it wasn't
until he achieved his first professional victory that he decided he wanted to
make tennis a professional career:
“I think my
first memory is being a really young kid and my parents started me out with a
tennis racket and a balloon to practice tennis for the first time. I didn’t
love tennis at the start and I didn’t want to be a part of it,” he said about his
professional career.
“I just
wanted to play other sports. But I got back to it. I think the moment I
realized that I wanted to a be a tennis player is probably the first
professional match I won in Illinois,” Shelton added in ATP's latest tennis
podcast.
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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