It was the 2023 US Open semifinal. A then-20-year-old Ben Shelton was going into the biggest match of his budding career completely ‘dialed-in.’ On the other side of the net was arguably the GOAT of tennis, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic. It started with this air of anticipation, with the home crowd believing that Shelton had what it took to defeat Djokovic. However, it ended steeped in controversy as the Serbian copied Shelton’s trademark ‘dialed-in’ celebration. Now, four months later, Djokovic has come clean about his reasoning, and guess what? Ben Shelton couldn’t have handled it any better.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Shelton said at the US Open. What was Nole’s reasoning for the imitation? He “loved” the celebration, thought it was “very original,” and “stole” it. But in an interview at the Australian Open, the World No.1 revisited his reasoning. “This is my reaction to a provocation that came from the other side. It was a reaction against [Shelton],” said Djokovic, a complete 180 from four months ago. “If anyone places himself in the unsportsmanlike zone, I react.” As Djokovic reacted, the 21-year-old did anything but.

After his first-round victory in Melbourne Park, Ben Shelton remained rather indifferent during his press conference. When he was told about Djokovic’s comments and asked what he thought, “I don’t really have anything else to say on the whole US Open situation. I feel like I’ve been asked about it constantly in the last four or five months. I’ve said my piece on the matter. I would rather just let it settle and move forward.”

Ever since that US Open semifinal, these questions have followed Ben Shelton. Instead of being in the spotlight for his game, it’s been because of this controversy. Understandably, he wants to put the past in the past. “We’re in Australia now, and we’re at the Australian Open, not the US Open anymore. I’m just focusing on the Australian Open and happy and grateful to be here,” he added. Talking about the Happy Slam, however, we could potentially see a Round 2 of Ben Shelton vs. Novak Djokovic.

Drawn in the same quarter, the American and Serbian could meet as early as the Round of 16. Given their current form, the two players are on a collision course to that fourth-round match-up. And although Shelton has expressed he’d rather let the US Open controversy go, it will likely bubble up again in anticipation of that match if it were to happen. And if a few coaches’ remarks are anything to go by, the result could be different this time around.

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Ben Shelton could end American men’s tennis’ 20-year drought

In the build-up to the Australian Open, Coco Gauff’s coach and ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert gave his two cents on Shelton’s chances in Melbourne. Coming into the tournament, the 21-year-old is defending his quarter-final run from last year. Currently ranked 16th in the world, Gilbert speculated, “He could cut his ranking in half and I think he’s going to be the first American [man] potentially to win a slam since Andy Roddick [2003 US Open].” 

Seeing how he looked unstoppable in his first-round match against Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut, Gilbert’s comment could very well have some weight. If Shelton keeps this form up, and Djokovic can overcome more potential scares as he did in Round 1, their meeting in the pre-quarters could be electric. And if Gilbert’s analysis is anything to go by, Shelton could come out on top.

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Moreover, Shelton’s father and coach, Bryan, revealed that Ben is “shooting for” a Grand Slam in the near future. Although the 21-year-old hasn’t explicitly stated that he’ll win the Australian Open, that’s certainly what he’s aiming to do. Can Shelton avenge his US Open defeat with a statement victory in Melbourne if the situation arises? Let us know in the comments!

Novak Djokovic Makes Shocking U-Turn on Imitating Ben Shelton’s Celebration -‘He Did Not Behave Properly’