Shelton surrenders to Jódar: "He will probably surpass what I did in 2023"
Fourth victory in Montreal for Ben Shelton, who has not stopped growing since the event began. Learner Tien awaits him in the semifinals, a match that will ensure an American in the title fight.
It is true that he arrived at the Masters 1000 in Montreal with low levels of confidence, but we also know that the good ones only need a moment to regain their grace on the court. That’s what happened to Ben Shelton this week, one of the players developing the best tennis and reaching the semifinals.
Last night, his match against Jakub Mensik had little mystery, a review of just over an hour where he dropped only four games. Imperial in all aspects, showing that hard courts are his natural habitat and that he is eager to be crowned once again in Canada to clear away the ghosts of the past few months. Facing the only remaining top 10 player left in the competition, Ben Shelton presents himself as the player who should bear the responsibility of becoming the champion of Montreal.
A perfect night
“It was a great night for me. I think days like this, when everything works, are a little easier. Mentally, it is much more complicated when you have things you are struggling with or issues on your side of the court that are hard to resolve. Tonight, I was able to better analyze what was happening on the other side of the court, find ways to be effective, and I executed very well.”
His most complete performance
“Yes, I think it was my best match of the week. The way I returned, the concentration I had from start to finish, the consistency I managed to maintain, getting into his service games and not losing my serve... It has been my most complete performance so far this week. I knew it from the first point, or from the second, when we had an exchange of about 20 shots, and I felt I was seeing the ball really well. Obviously, he played very well in that first game too, so I thought it was going to be a battle, a very tough match. I already knew before I started that I was feeling the ball well. I had a great warm-up and felt like I was seeing the ball very big from the beginning.”
Montreal suits him well
“I think it is a combination of the court and the balls. It’s a slow hard court, but it bounces very high. That makes my serve very effective, but it also gives me time to create and generate with my groundstrokes. The combination of all those things makes it difficult to play against me, especially if I am returning well and can get into my opponent’s service games. I felt many of those same things in Toronto last year. I think the courts are quite similar, which is fantastic.”
Ben Shelton praises Rafa Jódar
“I am really impressed with Rafa for the way he has entered the circuit. I didn’t expect there to be another college player in three years who would be ranked 500 in the world and then within the top 20 in a year. He will probably reach the top 10 and surpass what I did in 2023. I think he has a great game, a complete game; he’s a great athlete, with a forehand, a backhand, and a return at the level of the best in the world. I really enjoyed watching his three matches against Arthur this year. They are hitting the ball incredibly from the baseline. I’m very happy for him and I look forward to seeing his journey and what he does in the next 18 months.”
The pride of American tennis
“I am fully supportive of all American players at all times and I have really enjoyed seeing how many of our players have succeeded. It hasn’t just been one or two, but we have shared the spotlight among Taylor, Foe, Tommy, Sebi, Nakashima, Learner, Michelsen, and many others who have made great runs. It’s really amazing to see the direction our country is taking in tennis.”
“I love being the underdog”
“I am definitely a big-match player. I love playing important matches, in big stadiums, and with large crowds. I enjoy playing against the best in the world. To be honest, I like going into a match as the underdog. It’s something I enjoy. I think I’m learning better each time how to handle those first rounds, playing a match where I’m not the favorite but rather an important player with a target on my back. That’s something all players have to learn to manage.”
Ben Shelton on his favoritism in Montreal
“I’m not really looking at it from that perspective. I think there is much more to gain by being here. My tennis has been improving more and more with each match I’ve played, and that’s the most beautiful thing about these events, having the opportunity to keep moving forward, continue building your game, and improve night after night. Coming back tomorrow and having continuity, playing consecutive days, I think is fantastic for my level and my game. I’m just looking forward to trying to improve tomorrow.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton se rinde ante Jódar: "Probablemente, superará lo que yo hice en 2023"