Ben Shelton’s reaction after beating Frances Tiafoe to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open. He picks up the phone & hangs it up. 📞 Coldblooded. 🇺🇸 🥶
(VIDEO) "Coldblooded": Shelton reacts with phone gesture after US Open quarter-final win
Tennis NewsSaturday, 09 September 2023 at 00:11
Ben Shelton reacted to his win over Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals of the US Open with a 'coldblooded' hanging-up-the-phone gesture.
Rising talent Shelton has had a dream run at this year's New York major. Earlier in the tournament, he moved past Pedro Cachin, Dominic Thiem, and Aslan Karatsev before ousting the first seeded player he faced - his compatriot and fourteenth seed Tommy Paul - in the Round of 16.
He then went on to face another American in his quarter-final match against tenth-seed Tiafoe. Despite Shelton's skills, this was the first time he had made it past the first round of the hard-court Slam, leading many to think that the more experienced Tiafoe would take the win.
Shelton celebrates with phone gesture
However, Shelton proved the predictions wrong, defeating Tiafoe in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. Immediately after scoring match point, the 20-year-old celebrated with a slightly unconventional gesture.
Instead of cheering and smiling as many players do when they've just won a match, the American appeared to remain calm for a few seconds as he mimicked picking up a phone and hanging up.
The Tennis Letter posted a clip of the action on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption:
"Ben Shelton’s reaction after beating Frances Tiafoe to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open.
He picks up the phone & hangs it up.
Coldblooded," followed by a US flag and a freezing-face emoji.
Shelton explains reason behind the gesture
In his post-match press conference, Shelton was asked about his phone gesture, saying it was inspired by sprinter and hurdler Grant Holloway.
"For me it's kind of like I'm saying 'I'm dialled in', that's what it is for me and you know the first time I really saw it was, I'm really close friends with a lot of track and field athletes who train at the University of Florida.
"One in particular, Grant Holloway, whose won the world championships I think three times in a row now, that's kind of his signature thing, he loves doing this [making a phone gesture] when he wins," he said, smiling.
Shelton will face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the US Open.
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- That's nice. But it doesn't make up for her nasty mouth to other opponents. Not to mention brushing an on-the-line ball mark away with her foot before the ump could see it.
mandoist11-05-2024 - One of the most enigmatic appearances on court. Lost her only sister early on in her career.MrAndreeva11-05-2024
- I don't think we are witnessing the beginning of the end. I think it's the end.MrAndreeva11-05-2024
- LOL.MrAndreeva10-05-2024
- My money is simply on fatigue. She's not the compact 'muscle-man'-type like perhaps Sabalenka, Swiatek or Sakkari. She's a player desperately longing for some kind of Djokovic rhythm. She should skip lots to win more majors. And the rumour I thought wasn't it Long Covid?MrAndreeva10-05-2024
