Ben Shelton was ruthless in the manner in which he dispatched Dominic Thiem yesterday, crushing the 2020 US Open winner in straight sets.
And yet, arguably Coco Gauff was even more cutthroat, as she bagelled her opponent on her way to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph.
These are two of America’s brightest tennis talents, and just a few ranking points away from actually being the country’s top-ranked male and female. Remarkably, they are just 20 and 21 years old.
The relationship they share is heartwarming, as they have clearly a lot of respect for one another; that spilt over into Ben Shelton’s recent press conference.
Ben Shelton full of praise for Coco Gauff
Speaking to reporters after his opening-round win over Thiem, Shelton cut an upbeat figure despite seeming genuinely regretful for having had to knock out the well-liked Austrian.
His attitude on court was so mature, as he stepped out of the limelight despite enjoying a straight-sets victory in his homeland to allow the 30-year-old to soak up the atmosphere.
Then, after the match, the American could not have been more complimentary, with his praise extending from Thiem to Gauff eventually.
Asked about his compatriot, who is defending her US Open title this year, he sought to explain what makes her so special: ‘First of all, her name is Coco. It’s something that sticks in your mind, right? Shout out to Corey and Candi Gauff because I think the name is half of it (smiling). It’s a name you remember.
‘She’s charismatic. Such a great athlete. Has so many qualities out there that resemble a male player. The way she moves and the way she can defend. You see something from her that’s special and different.
‘She plays with a lot of passion. You can tell she cares out there. She’s into it every time she’s out on court. I think that’s something people love.’
Their comments on one another are always well-received, as were their hilarious antics as Shelton and Gauff played together ahead of the US Open.
Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff could both challenge for the US Open
Naturally, as two of the better-ranked tennis players in America, Shelton and Gauff hold the bulk of expectations from fans rooting for a hometown winner at the US Open this year.
And, both enjoyed a supremely successful 2023 iteration of the event too, which lends to this increased pressure.
Shelton reached the semi-final, losing only to Novak Djokovic, whilst Coco Gauff won the entire thing.
They are once again expected to achieve similar levels of success, with both boasting games that are conducive to this surface and conditions too.
Big-serving players with great movements and powerful ball-striking. Should they be on form, there are few ATP or WTA players who would relish facing them in the draw.
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