"The way that I love to fight, that I don't give up": Ben Shelton looked up to Rafael Nadal out of the Big Three
ATPTuesday, 24 October 2023 at 07:30
America’s young tennis sensation Ben Shelton has revealed
that he idolises the former world number one Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
The 37-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest players
in the history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.
Shelton, on the other hand, is rated as one of the best young players currently playing on the circuit along with Spain’s Carlos
Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
The 21-year-old was recently quoted in a report where he
revealed that he looked up to Nadal as a source of inspiration.
"The guy that I looked up to was Rafael Nadal,” he said.
“I think at times on the court, the way that I love to fight, that I don’t give
up, could be some traits that I saw or learned from Rafa growing up. He was one
of those guys who replicated it every match, every tournament. You could only
hope to have a fighting spirit like him.”
Shelton showcased his talent in the recently concluded US
Open where he played in the semifinal. However, he ended up losing that contest
to the current world number one Serbia’s Novak Djokovic with a score of 6-3,
6-2, 7-6.
The Atlanta-born is now taking part in the Vienna Open where
he is set to face Sinner in a round of 32 clash on Tuesday.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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