The camaraderie among athletes is a sight that is very common in team sports, like basketball or the NFL. Tennis, a sport that is dominated by the singles tour, doesn’t get to showcase the camaraderie among stars. However, that changed in Shanghai! Ben Shelton has been paired up with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz for their upcoming doubles match at the Shanghai Masters. Coincidentally, Ben’s birthday falls on the same day. On that topic, Ben expressed what he wanted from his doubles partner as a gift. 

The American prodigy is all set for his match against Rinky Hijikata and Cameron Norrie. Playing alongside him is the Polish pro, Hurkacz. Their match will be the beginning of tomorrow’s session. 

What does Ben Shelton want for his birthday?

The American prodigy will turn 21 tomorrow and it looks like he has already decided how he wants to celebrate his birthday. When asked about the subject, Ben disclosed his birthday wish without any hesitation. He said:

“Definitely playing doubles to celebrate tomorrow. Hopefully Hubi brings me a cake out to the court.” 😂🎂”

His plan for the celebration couldn’t have been any better than playing doubles with some of the best players. Looks like the duo has moved further than just a first-name basis. Ben calls his doubles partner ‘Hubi’, which shows how close they are. And he is optimistic that his friend will bring a birthday cake to the court. Even though cakes are mostly just there on birthdays, Ben wants his friend to put in the effort. 

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Whether Hubert sees Ben as a close friend or not is a question worth asking. Ben has been phenomenal in the singles matches, so it’s not wrong of him to expect a little treat from his newfound friend. 

Shelton-Hurkacz – future best buds in tennis?

Ben Shelton seems like a friendly guy, so naturally, he wants to be Hubert’s friend as well. However, being friends with Hubert comes with a great deal of benefits. Hurkacz is a phenomenal player with a lot more experience than Ben. 

Getting on his good side can mean extra tips for Ben to make his game even better. Hurkacz has the upper hand when put against Ben, as he has defeated one of the legends of tennis. At the 2022 Wimbledon Championships’ quarter-finals, Hubert beat Roger Federer 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0. This is a lifetime achievement for any young player. 

Whether Ben gets his birthday wish fulfilled or not, the duo will have to stick together for the match. Shelton seems to be in his best form, and so does Hurkacz, so it’ll be interesting to find out if they can complement each other’s skills.

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