Coco Gauff
shared a post on X about the University of Florida, where
Ben Shelton
represented the college team.
Before
taking his first steps on the professional circuit, Shelton, during his college
years, shone on the men's tennis team at the University of Florida, known as
the Florida Gators. In 2021, the young American played a crucial role in the
team's national championship victory, leaving an indelible mark.
Later, in
the 2022 NCAA Division I Tennis Championship, he won the men's singles title
and, as the icing on the cake, was honored with the prestigious title of
National Player of the Year by the ITA.
According
to a list compiled by niche.com, the University of Florida ranked number one in
the ranking of the top 50 universities in the United States for athletics.
Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama followed closely
behind, securing the second and third spots, respectively.
2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff compaartió el rankng en X y
aludió a su compatriota:
“Did you
write this? 😂 @BenShelton," Gauff wrote.
Gauff and
Shelton have previously stated that they have a close relationship, with World
No. 19 Shelton even mentioning that he sees Gauff as a younger sister.
Both tennis
players are now preparing for the Asian tour. In Shelton's case, he will have
to compete in the qualifying rounds of the ATP 500 Beijing Open. Despite being
ranked World No. 19, the seeding was determined before his participation in the
US Open, so his entry ranking is 47th.
On the
other hand, World No. 3 Gauff will also compete in Beijing, where she will be
the third seed. Although the tournament features both men's and women's draws,
they run in consecutive weeks, meaning Gauff will have to wait an additional
week compared to Shelton before taking to the court.