In the world of professional tennis, where players compete fiercely for glory on the court, you might think that when one player compliments another, it’s all friendly and positive. But as we’re about to see, that’s not always the case. This is the story of Sebastian Korda, a rising tennis star, and his recent comments about another player, Ben Shelton, at the US Open. What started as a simple compliment turned into a big controversy that split tennis fans.

Korda has a tendency to overplay someone’s influence as witnessed in his proclamations throughout his career. Nevertheless, the tennis realm poked fun at Korda for showering praise on Shelton’s character.

Fans mince no words over Sebastian Korda declaring Ben Shelton “a great role model”

At the recently concluded US Open, Ben Shelton reached the semifinals, where he faced the formidable Novak Djokovic, who eventually clinched the championship. Yet, it wasn’t just Shelton’s impressive performance that caught Sebastian Korda’s attention. Korda talked highly about Shelton, stating, “I think Ben did a great job at the US Open. He just really showed the world what he’s capable of and what he can do in the near future. I think he’s a great role model for younger kids with the way that he plays.”

While these uplifting words obviously came from a place of genuine respect for Ben Shelton, social media, however, did not take it very well. The response from fans was far from what Korda likely anticipated.

A fan questioned the idea of Shelton as a role model due to his deteriorating standards in terms of his character.

Korda’s infamous Wimbledon reference resurfaced in another tweet, with a user offering a quip.

While the backlash was palpable, some fans came to Shelton’s defense, drawing comparisons to the behavior of other tennis stars.

A Twitter user questioned Korda’s choice of words.

Another tweet humorously referenced Korda’s own past comments through a quirky gif.

Another fan commented also chose to poke fun at Korda’s outlandish proclamation before the Wimbledon.

The irony wasn’t lost on some fans who found humor in the situation.

Sebastian Korda’s trait of upping the ante has garnered a reputation among tennis fans and there are numerous examples of this case. The most prominent one being his self proclamation of being the Wimbledon favorite.

Sebastian Korda’s ‘Wimbledon favorite’ fiasco comes to the forefront once again

To make things more interesting, it’s important to mention that Korda once said he was the “Wimbledon favorite”, even though many fans didn’t agree. He said this before the Wimbledon Championships began. Adding insult to injury, Korda didn’t only not claim the Wimbledon trophy but also lost in the first round itself against an unseeded player.

ALSO READ: Already Turned Role Model at 20, America?s Ben Shelton?s Lasting Impact Hailed by Compatriot in a Stirring Message

In the world of professional sports, where athletes are always striving to win and achieve their own goals, even when they admire each other, their compliments can sometimes cause unexpected problems.

What do you make of the outrage directed at Korda over his comments involving Ben Shelton? Let us know in the comments section below.

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