Super Shelton revelling in first time outside US in run to Australian Open Quarter-Finals: “I got on the plane with no expectations”
ATP
Ben Shelton entered the Australian Open with just one
win away from his country, achieved a week earlier in Auckland.
The 20-year-old had already
acknowledged that he had never been outside his country, and now he added that
the time difference and the distance made him not adapt well to the conditions:
“I got on the plane with no
expectations.
“I know that it’s very hard to
adjust to Australia from the United States just with the jetlag, time change
and everything.”
“But I think it has helped me a little bit having that
expectation or the feeling that I have to perform, but being able to just go
out there, be myself and play free.”
Just a few months ago, Shelton was playing university
tennis, and his rapid explosion of professionalism has forced him to continue
his education through a distance program, for which he has had to reconcile
classes with the Australian Open.
“I feel great. It’s been a pretty special week for
me,”
“Definitely a lot on my plate,
playing my first Grand Slam outside of the United States, starting school this
week. It’s been a lot. But I’m really enjoying it so far.
“Each match that I’ve won here has
felt the same. It’s a mixture of joy, relief. I just have that feeling of
ecstasy. When the last ball lands, I did it. To be able to do that on this
stage four times in a row, that feeling over and over again, has been pretty
cool.”
In his last match, against J.J. Wolf, the young-star
looked much better physically than his compatriot during the last set, in this
regard Shelton commented that: "I think I'm in a pretty good place
physically,"
“I think that since the last Grand Slam I played, in
the US Open, where I was really struggling, five sets in the heat, I barely
survived. My fitness wasn’t near what I needed it to be. So I’ve worked really
hard these past five or six months to get to where I want to be.”
With his
impressive performance, Shelton has already become the youngest American player
to reach the AO Round of 16 (20 years, 3 months), surpassing Andy Roddick who
held the record since 2003 (20 years, 4 months). Now he will compete with his
compatriot Tommy Paul to reach the semifinals.
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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