Djokovic shows class with Shelton message after US – Sports News
Novak Djokovic demonstrated his sportsmanship by reaching out to Ben Shelton after the sixth-seeded participant was compelled to withdraw from the US Open. Shelton suffered a shoulder damage during his third-round match in opposition to Adrian Mannarino on Friday, even halting mid-game to obtain physio therapy.
Despite the ache, Shelton continued till he misplaced the fourth set, and tearfully retired from a skilled tennis match for the primary time in his profession.
The heartbreaking scenes caught Djokovic’s eye, prompting him to share a heartfelt public message to the current Canadian Open champion on Instagram.
The Serbian tennis star posted a video of Shelton’s retirement on his story with the caption: “Tough one today, Ben.. Stay strong.”
Djokovic is effectively conscious of Shelton’s prowess on the US Open. In 2023, when Shelton was ranked forty seventh on the planet, he made a stunning run to the semi-finals, defeating fellow Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe consecutively.
Shelton started celebrating his victories by mimicking hanging up a telephone, a gesture impressed by Grant Holloway, one other former University of Florida scholar athlete. However, when Djokovic defeated him within the semis and copied the telephone celebration, it sparked controversy.
Shelton did not discover till he left the courtroom and checked social media, however he took it in stride, stating that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
When questioned about why he imitated Shelton’s celebration, the 24-time Grand Slam winner responded: “I just love Ben’s celebration. I thought it was very original, and I copied him. I stole his celebration.”
However, Shelton’s father and coach, Bryan, accused Djokovic of “mocking” his son. During a GQ interview a number of weeks afterward, he acknowledged: “He wanted to mock Ben at the end. It wasn’t something he was doing just to copy Ben. It was to mock him. And that’s too bad, for that to come from such a great champion.”
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Several months later on the 2024 Australian Open, Djokovic lastly revealed to L’Equipe his true motivation for mimicking Shelton’s trademark celebration.
“You use the word ‘provoke’. I don’t provoke. This is my reaction to a provocation that came from the opposite side. Regarding Ben Shelton, it was a reaction against him, on the fact that he did not behave correctly, with respect on the court, and also before the match,” he clarified.
“That’s the story. I’m never going to make fun of someone if they don’t do something first. Every time I lose, I always give my opponent a hug, I congratulate him, I respect him and his team. But if someone places themselves in the ‘unsportsmanlike’ zone, I react.”
Years have handed since their icy US Open encounter concluded. Shelton has risen to change into a top-10 competitor, capturing his most important trophy on the Masters 1000 in Toronto simply weeks in the past, and any lingering animosity seems to have been resolved.
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