The 2023 Australian Open was marked by the rising talent of 20-year-old Ben Shelton, who dominated the tournament's serving stats and made it to the quarterfinals.
Shelton's powerful serve was on full display as he hit the fastest serve recorded at the tournament, clocking in at a whopping 228 kph (141 mph). This impressive feat placed him ahead of other top servers such as Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Bublik, who clocked in at 226 kph (140 mph) and 224 kph (139 mph) respectively.
Shelton's dominance on the serving front was not limited to speed alone, as he also dominated the aces statistics at the tournament. In just five matches, Shelton hit an astounding 85 aces, leaving his closest competitors, Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, trailing behind with 83 and 69 aces respectively. Even with a final match against Novak Djokovic, Tsitsipas would still need to hit 17 aces to surpass Shelton's record.
Shleton's powerful serve is a result of his rigorous training and practice, and his dominance in the aces statistics is a testament to his ability to consistently hit powerful, accurate serves. Therefore, it's not a surprise that many compare him to Andy Roddick, who was the last American to play in the Australian Open semifinal before Tommy Paul secured it after beating Shelton.
Shelton's impressive performance at the Australian Open is also a sign of great things to come for the young player. His powerful serve and strong net play make him a player that no one wants to face on the tennis court, and with his youth and talent, he is sure to have a bright future in the world of professional tennis.
As we look ahead to the rest of the 2023 season and beyond, we can expect to see more of Shelton's dominant serving and powerful play on the court. His performance at the Australian Open is just a taste of what's to come, and tennis fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see what this rising talent will achieve in the future.