Ben Shelton, a 20-year-old American tennis player, is being hailed as a future star in the sport after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open, just his second Grand Slam tournament.
He is being compared to former world number one Andy Roddick, who also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open at the age of 20, but he took it one step further, and achieved semifinals. Now, Tommy Paul, who defeated Shelton, became the first American to reach those stages in Melbourne since Roddick did it in 2009.
John McEnroe, a former American tennis player and current commentator, has been particularly impressed with Shelton, noting that his left-handedness gives him an advantage on the court.
"He's left-handed so that's a great thing, you know, lefties are a lot smarter, so they use their serve more effectively than righties. He reminds me actually of Roddick when he was 20."
Shelton's serve is certainly one of his biggest strengths, as he hit 24 aces in his quarterfinal match, but his all-around game is also impressive. McEnroe also noted that Shelton has come a long way in a short period of time, saying:
"His serve is unbelievable, and I didn't see this coming, I didn't realize how good this kid was. I saw him a little bit at the US Open, he was a work in progress, but he's come a long way. This guy's got everything. I think he's going to be in the Top 5 in the world in a couple of years."
Shelton's quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open is a huge accomplishment, and it is clear that he has a bright future ahead of him. McEnroe believes that Shelton will be in the Top 5 in the world in a couple of years, and it is hard to argue with that assessment based on the talent and potential that he has displayed so far.
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