Darwin Blanch is a 16-year-old tennis star who used to be a hitting partner for Carlos Alcaraz. The youngster has played in ITF tournaments so far but has found himself in the main draw of the Miami Open. Blanch, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Ben Shelton, has been touted as a great upcoming player for the American future. One such tennis personality was Rick Macci, the childhood coach of Serena Williams and Venus Williams. What did he say?

Serena Williams’ childhood coach takes Darwin Blanch under his wing

In 2023, the then 15-year-old Blanch caught the eye of Macci as he showed his talent in ITF tournaments. Since 2023, he has been growing under Macci and has continued carrying the legacy of the American coach. The 68-year-old also wrote about him on his ‘X’ page, where he praised him for having one of the best forehands in the tournament.

“American 15-year-old Darwin Blanch will have one of the best forehands and serves on the ATP TOUR in the near future. Everything is science-based and wired correctly from age 6. The muscle memory is brainwashed to optimize execution in sync so you do not have a technical flaw.”

When someone like Macci says this, it’s worth listening to. He has coached some of the best in the game. Apart from coaching the Williams sisters from 1991 to 1995, he also worked with Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, and Maria Sharapova. Thus, his praise for Blanch shows the immense potential he possesses. The young lad will soon step into his first Masters!

The player is currently ranked 1034. But he managed to enter the Miami Open with the help of a wild card. He worked as Carlos Alcaraz’s hitting partner, but unfortunately, the Spaniard was injured. Blanch has continued to grow and recently partnered with Holger Rune for training before a tournament. However, fans were focused on his resemblance with World No. 17, not only in features but in playing style as well!

Blanch – Ben Shelton’s doppelganger?

Having been called a mini Shelton, Darwin Blanch met his American senior at last year’s US Open’s junior event. Although Blanch posed with stars like Novak Djokovic, Tommy Paul, and Taylor Fritz, the picture with Shelton makes the duo look like twins.

Fans have wondered if they are related. Some even joked that he looked as if someone had tried to draw the 21-year-old American star from memory!

Blanch has surprised fans with the way he resembles the American player. As he now steps into the Miami Open and faces Tomas Machac, he hopes to win his debut Masters match and have a big jump in rankings. 

READ MORE: Miami Open Receives a ‘Mini Ben Shelton’ Surprise in the Form of a 16-YO American Prodigy