"I liked the kid, and I knew he was going to be good": Tommy Paul says Ben Shelton emergence shot in the arm for American tennis 'brotherhood'

Tommy Paul commented that Ben Shelton's emergence in 2023 has been a positive contribution to the ATP Tour and has elevated the energy among American tennis players. The American contingent boasts four players in the top 20: Taylor Fritz (10th), Tommy Paul (13th), Frances Tiafoe (16th), and Ben Shelton (17th).

The 20-year-old surprised in his initial steps on the Tour by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the US Open, climbing from world No. 96 to No. 15 in October 2023.

According to Tommy Paul, in addition to the impressive tennis displayed by his compatriot, Shelton's energy has rejuvenated the atmosphere among American tennis players. Shelton not only stood out for his different and eye-catching style of play but also showcased an energy that caught the attention of fans: "It’s fun having him around. He’s definitely young. He’s got that young-kid energy, so it’s a lot of fun, especially with the group of older guys that we have now,” claimed Tommy Paul.

“No, it’s awesome. I didn’t know Ben Shelton too much when he was 17 or younger, but I knew his dad a bit. And when he first came on the tour, I mean, I wouldn’t say I took him under my wing or anything, but I liked the kid, and I knew he was going to be good,”

Paul mentioned that Shelton's early appearance makes him feel like he has aged. While Tommy Paul has shown consistent play in recent years, his first appearance in the top 20 was in January of this season at the age of 26, whereas Shelton achieved the same feat just a few months later at the age of 20.

“I mean, it’s weird to call us older guys, but, like, coming up with Foe and Fritz. We just have a bunch of good players, so it’s cool to have that young guy come in and really push us. I mean, it’s almost bringing us together in a way.”

“I think you see it in a lot of different generations in tennis. This one, it’s pretty cool,” he added. “We have like, two people in the top 10. So it’s kind of cool that we’re actually up at the top of the game. I mean, all our best athletes go into other sports, so there’s our excuse, I guess,”