In a recent press conference at the 2024 US Open, a journalist reminded Ben Shelton of his controversial involvement with Novak Djokovic over his ‘dialed-in’ celebration. He faced the Serb in the 2023 semifinals in Flushing Meadows and lost 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4).
Djokovic cruised through the first and second sets before Shelton offered resistance in the third to force a tiebreaker. Shelton was broken twice in the set but managed to return the favor followed by brave celebrations on the back of roaring support from the home crowd in New York. The eventual champion, however, prevailed and took a leaf out of Shelton’s book to reproduce the infamous ‘dialed-in’ celebration the American had pulled out on beating Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals.
The incident grabbed eyeballs but the 24-time Grand Slam champion passed on adding fuel to the fire by suggesting in the post-match press conference that he repeated the gesture only because he loved it. Shelton, on the other hand, offered a witty response in his presser and said:
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!”
Prompted by a media person in New York at the ongoing 2024 US Open, Shelton reflected on the controversy. He defended his actions, claiming that they were an expression of self-love.
“I think that was just kind of me being myself,” Ben Shelton said. “Me giving some shout-outs to my friends. I think that it’s something that I guess wasn’t taken the way that I wanted it to be, but I don’t think it deterred me from being who I am.
“I’m always going to be somebody who doesn’t back away from a challenge or get quiet when I get pressed. That’s just not the type of person I am. You’ve got to pick your battles, you know, choose your moments to really get loud.”
A rematch between Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic at US Open 2024
In the aforementioned press conference at the 2024 US Open, Ben Shelton further suggested he lives in the present and his on-court celebrations are extempore.
“I’m not somebody who thinks about, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this celebration or, oh, I’m going to do this at this moment.’ It’s just kind of spontaneous. It’s what the moment brings,” the American said.
Things have shaped more or less similarly in the ongoing edition of the 2024 US Open as Shelton finds himself pitted against Frances Tiafoe in the third round after he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in the second on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic is also through to the third round, where he will face Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. Notably, if he and Shelton succeed in their third-round efforts, they will be face-to-face at Arthur Ashe Stadium for a rematch.
