Ben Shelton‘s massive performance at the American clay-court tournament brought his name to the spotlight. Besides everything that comprises his massive form, one thing that establishes the young American as a strong force is his service. After a detailed analysis of the subject, former tennis pro-Stan Smith recently came forward to weigh his potential, drawing his name parallel to that of Roger Federer.

The former world no. 1 showered praise on Ben Shelton, specifically highlighting the explosive power behind his serve. In a recent episode of the famous ‘Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast’, Smith highlighted Shelton’s unique style, keeping it in contrast with the smooth elegance of Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer.

Smith mentioned, “It’s truly explosive; it’s not smooth as a guy like Federer. You know, the liquid power comes from all the connected links of your body working together at the right time as efficiently as possible, and that’s where you get the guy who generated tremendous power, and Ben does everything needed. Good knee bend, good shoulder return, live arm.”

At just 21 years of age, Shelton created a strong image in the tennis world, mainly because of the way he served. The tennis star gave an exceptional performance during the 2023 US Open, recording speeds of 147 to 149 mph. On the other side, Federer is known to have a record of hitting 11,478 aces throughout his career. The comparative analysis conducted by the former pro wasn’t just a regular statement but acted as an achievement for the young American.

As Shelton now looks forward to starting the European clay court season with his upcoming match against Tomas Machac, it remains to be seen if he will be able to resemble the dominance that he depicted back in Houston.

Roger Federer sees Ben Shelton as an uncut diamond

Ben Shelton’s excellent performance at the Laver Cup last year not only earned him glory but also helped him gain recognition. Soon after being in the spotlight for his amazing run at the US Open, Shelton hopped on to the Laver Cup and therefore caught the eye of the Swiss tennis maestro.

Looking at his big serves, Federer couldn’t hold his thoughts down about the rising American sensation and therefore made a statement about him to Jim Courier. “I was talking to Roger Federer earlier today about Ben, and he described him as an uncut diamond,” Courier revealed, letting the world know about Federer’s perspective towards the rising star.

As Ben Shelton continues to establish his name in the hearts of the Tennis Hall of Fame, it remains to be seen if the predictions made about him turn out to be true.