It is day 4 of the Paris Olympics, and Team USA has already made a head start. Led by the US Open champion Coco Gauff, the roster is everything that the spectators would demand. However, even after commendable strength in the team, few names missed out, with Ben Shelton being the major highlight. As things proceed, the young American appears to be envying the glory that his compatriots are enjoying.

Team USA is currently making a strong impression at the Paris Olympics with a powerful roster in tennis. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, and Emma Navarro are playing in women’s singles, while Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Chris Eubanks, and Marcos Giron compete in men’s singles. Ben Shelton, even after topping the rankings, was unable to qualify and missed the chance to represent his nation.

Despite his impressive performance in the ongoing season, he decided not to participate in the Olympics this year. He explained his choice, saying, “Our season is really long. See a lot of people getting injured at this time of year, a lot of guys pulling out of the Olympics. They went and tried to play but weren’t ready.” The young ATP star also expressed his future aspirations, saying, “Obviously I would love to play for my country in the future. It’s a bucket list thing for me. I’m going to try to hard to qualify for L.A. in 2028.”

Shelton has had a consistent season, proving himself as a “dark horse” by winning the ATP Houston title after a strong battle against Frances Tiafoe. His decision to skip the Olympics was tough but necessary for his career. “I’m happy with the decision I made. Certainly, it was a difficult one. I think for preparation for the US Open, the rest of the year, it’s the right decision for me,“ he said.

While he came up with his explanation, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, also commented on Shelton and Tiafoe’s choices. “That’s a choice; they’re both playing in Atlanta this weekend; Shelton, he lost first-round; Tiafoe, I think still alive. It’s a choice, you know, that people make; maybe they think, they’ll have other opportunities to play,” he said. Macci’s insight shed light on the personal and strategic decisions these players made amid the glorious event.

Is Ben Shelton focusing on personal over national glory?

The Olympics is a dissimilar road, at least for the tennis stars. While all other tournaments and events tend to pay a handsome amount to the participants, the games are rather a way to make the nation proud with consistent efforts. Ben Shelton, upon his withdrawal to be a part of the Olympic roster, made it clear that he is prioritizing the upcoming US Open.

“I want to prepare and really get ready for the U.S. Open. Having to go back to Europe to play on clay, a different surface, it messes up a few lead-up tournaments to the U.S. Open,“ Shelton said in a press conference. Soon after this comment started to gather the attention of fans, some saw it as a justified response, while others drew a theory about him being money-minded while arranging his schedule.

Although the young ATP star has made his desire to be a part of the next version of the Olympics, the theory could somehow be deselected. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how he performs in the upcoming hard court events.