"I try and work with my assets and be unique": Ben Shelton takes inspiration from Rafael Nadal but aims to blaze his own trail
ATP
Ben Shelton
revealed that on the court, he draws inspiration from Rafael Nadal, especially
for his fighting spirit, but he works on developing his own style. The American
highlighted the similarity with Nadal being left-handed but clarified that he
doesn't try to replicate everything the 22-times Grand Slam champion does.
The young
American emerged as one of the revelations of the season, finishing the year as
world No. 17, despite starting the year at No. 96. Shelton clinched his first
title at the Japan Open and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open
and the semifinals at the US Open.
"I've taken few things from Nadal"
Shelton
didn't progress beyond the second round of any ATP Tour event from January at
the Aussie Open until September at the US Open. Although his season wasn't
entirely consistent, Shelton demonstrated that he is ready for the big stage,
particularly with strong performances in Grand Slam events, allowing him to
finish the year in the top-20, along with securing the ATP 500 Tokyo Open
trophy.
The
American recently spoke in an interview with On-running.com and expressed his
admiration for the 14-times French Open champion Rafa Nadal: "I try to be
unique with my playing style and do things other players aren’t,' said Shelton,
as per On-running.com. 'I've taken a few things from Nadal because he's
left-handed, but I try to work with my assets and be unique."
The
interviewer asked if he, like Nadal, has rituals or superstitions, Shelton
responded: 'I’m not a superstitious ritual guy. My warm-ups vary. I eat
different things. I do like to listen to aggressive hip-hop to hype myself up
before I go on court, but it just comes down to hard work.'
The
20-year-old will kick off his season at the Brisbane Open, where he'll be the
third seed, sharing the draw with Nadal, who will make his official return at
the tournament. Shelton plans to play the following week at the Auckland Open,
where he'll be the first seed, and then compete in the Australian Open, where
he is the 17th seed.
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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