(VIDEO) Ben Shelton celebration breaches world of ice hockey with Martin Necas sealing overtime win

The celebration of Ben Shelton's "phone" gesture on the ATP Tour has been gaining popularity, and this time, it reached the world of hockey players.

There's no doubt that Ben Shelton has been one of the remarkable breakthroughs on the Tour, showcasing immense talent that has propelled him from outside the top 150 to join the elite top-15 within the last 12 months.

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Shelton began 2023 without international experience and, within a few months, he secured significant results, including his first ATP 500 title at the Tokyo Open, a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, and a semifinal run at the US Open.

The 21-year-old has captured the attention of fans not only with his talent but also with his charismatic personality on and off the court. One of the unique features of Shelton's game this year has been his celebration, where he imitates holding a phone to his ear and then "hangs up" the call.

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This distinctive celebration has gained popularity and even made its way into the world of hockey, thanks to Czech hockey player Martin Necas.

“Ben Shelton even has hockey players doing the phone celebration. Martin Nečas scored a game winning goal in overtime with 9.7 seconds left & picked up the phone.”

The Tennis Letter

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Ben Shelton even has hockey players doing the phone celebration. Martin Nečas scored a game winning goal in overtime with 9.7 seconds left & picked up the phone. Influence. 📞

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One instance when the celebration gained even more popularity was during the controversy involving the American player and Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows.

After a hard-fought victory by the Serbian over Shelton, 'Nole' qualified for the final with a win in three sets and then performed the same phone gesture. Many interpreted it as a taunt, and both players later discussed it in their press conferences.

“I just love Ben’s celebration. I thought it was very original. I copied him. I stole his celebration,” Djokovic said after his winning over Shelton.

"I didn't see it until after the game. I don't like to see people on social media telling me how I should or shouldn't celebrate. If you win a game, you deserve to do whatever you want. I was taught as a kid that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. That's all I'm going to say,"

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Ben Shelton speaks on Novak Djokovic doing his phone celebration at the #USOpen

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