Why Nobody Wants to Practice with Ben Shelton

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 16, 2025

In tennis circles, we at all times hear about “leftiness” and the way southpaws current distinctive issues for his or her opponents on a tennis court docket. That lefty serve that may drag an opponent into the photographer pit?

All people is aware of about it – and dreads going through it.

It’s a definite benefit for a lot of lefties on tour however, as Ben Shelton mentioned on Friday evening in Melbourne, being a lefty has its drawbacks as effectively.

The No.21 seed, who compled a four-set victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to succeed in the third spherical, says that the largest drawback is that guys simply don’t need to apply with lefties.

“You’ll be able to’t get a apply,” he mentioned. “It is unattainable, aside from when the draw comes out and so they play Draper, Shapo, or Ugo Humbert. Then I get the look. Aside from that, folks do not need to apply with you as a lot.”

Shelton, a former quarterfinalist on the Australian Open, has reached not less than the third spherical in every of his three appearances in Melbourne Park. He says he doesn’t care who he practices with. However different ATP gamers might be very choosy.

“For me I do not thoughts. I hit with a righty, lefty, tall man, brief man, serve bot, grinder. Does not actually matter,” he mentioned. “Guys on tour, gamers or coaches, are specific about who they apply with. Huge serve, lefty, that is two strikes in opposition to you. Discovering hits might be troublesome.”

However even that works in Shelton’s favor. If gamers don’t need to apply with him then that leaves the factor of shock in play.

“I might say on the identical time folks do not need to hit with lefties so they do not see your model of recreation as a lot,” Shelton mentioned. “I’m going out and play in opposition to any person that mentioned no to working towards with me the final 4 instances, not less than he hasn’t seen my serve.”