Jim Courier, whilst impressed, remains worried about one thing he saw from Ben Shelton’s first-round French Open win last night.
That is, despite the 22-year-old showing great fight to come back against Lorenzo Sonego.
Suffering throughout long periods of the match, in the end, his quality shone through as the serve held up and he remained bold with his groundstrokes.
But that is what we have come to expect from Ben Shelton, who even fought through an injury scare too.
Jim Courier worried about Ben Shelton’s injury
Speaking on the TNT Sports panel immediately after the match, Courier was pleased with what he saw from his compatriot.
After all, he overcame great adversity to claim victory, including treatment received in the fourth set.
It was this injury worry in particular which left Courier somewhat nervous for Shelton’s prospects going forward at the French Open, as he stated: ‘A little bit worrying that he had the foot treatment at the end of the fourth set. We’ll find out more in the post-match presser about what went down there.’
Then talking about his general development as a player, Courier continued: ‘I just think about when he started playing at this tournament a few years back, how he overcompensated for the surface. He tried to adapt his game to the surface and try and play more like a clay-courter.
‘What I like, a couple years later, is that he’s playing like he always plays on the other surface. He needs to make the surface bend to his will, not the other way around. I love seeing it.’
A public vote of confidence from a man of Courier’s stature will do this youngster the world of good, with John McEnroe even offering to become Shelton’s coach just a few days ago such is his confidence.
Ben Shelton overcomes tough challenge at Roland Garros
For Shelton, a first-round clash against Sonego arguably could not have been more difficult, with the Italian a tricky customer always capable of an upset.
And, when he raced into a two-sets-to-one lead over the American, he seemed poised to be his next victim.
So, to come back from that position to reach the second round should give Shelton such confidence on a surface that he has struggled with at times during his short career.
He will now face the winner of Hugo Gaston and Ugo Blanchet, meaning he is guaranteed to be forced into the role of the pantomime villain facing a Frenchman in Paris.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
