By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday January 15, 2024
He’s making his sixth Grand Slam principal draw look, however already Ben Shelton has executed sufficient to be thought of the American man with the best probability to interrupt the curse and turn out to be the primary American man to win a serious since 2003 by John McEnroe and lots of different in-the-know pundits.
After Monday’s 6-2, 7-6(2), 7-5 win over tour veteran Roberto Bautista Agut, Shelton is now 10-2 on laborious courts on the majors for the reason that begin of his inconceivable run to the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2023.
And, he’s getting higher – in all areas.
Again on the scene of the climb 📈
Final yr’s quarterfinalist @benshelton will get previous Bautista Agut 6-2 7-6(2) 7-5.#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/Uq6PPL6Qck
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2024
“I really feel like I’ve made some strides in sure areas,” Shelton advised reporters in his post-match press convention. “I feel [I am] a way more strong baseliner. At this level of the yr I really feel like I’ve rounded out my sport a little bit bit, and I am not counting on my function a lot as I used to be final yr.”
These are all good indicators for Shelton’s future. The previous NCAA champion at Florida has a booming serve that’s already among the many greatest within the sport. And if he can carry his baseline and return sport up on par with it, he may very well be a real terror on tour.
Shelton, who will face Aussie Christopher O’Connell within the second spherical, says he has improved just by dealing with so many gifted gamers on tour over the past 52 weeks.
And it exhibits.
“I really feel myself being a little bit bit extra comfy in rallies that go previous three or 4 pictures,” the 21-year-old provides. “I really feel perhaps final yr I closely relied on plus-ones and successful the purpose within the first two or three pictures. So I feel that my shot tolerance has improved a bit. That simply comes with taking part in so many nice gamers elsewhere, totally different surfaces.
“It makes you enhance.”
