(VIDEO) "I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery": Shelton not offended by Djokovic mocking his celebration
ATP
Ben Shelton lost out in the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open with a 3-6, 2-6, 6-7 loss to Novak Djokovic who post-match decided to mock the phone celebration adopted by the American.
In a statement celebration, Djokovic put the phone down on Shelton as he was walking to the net. But Shelton wasn't left offended by it.
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Even he admitted that he didn't see it until he went onto social media after the match and that for him, he believes that if you win the match you can celebrate however you want.
So when put to him in the press conference, it didn't stir up any sort of issues between the pair as the 20-year-old ends a landmark tournament with a semi-final loss to the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“I didn’t see it until after the match. I don’t like when I’m on social media and I see people telling me how I can or can’t celebrate. If you win the match you deserve to do whatever you want. As a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," said Shelton.

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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