Ben Shelton aims to defend his Eisenhower Cup title with Emma Navarro after semifinal loss at Australian Open.

“Run It Back!”– Ben Shelton Shrugs Off Australian Open Setback As He Eyes Eisenhower Cup Defense with Compatriot

 Ben Shelton [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ben-shelton/] has been making waves on the ATP tour ever since his breakout run at the 2023 US Open, where he reached the semifinals. At just 22, the American has already made it to the final four of two Grand Slams, proving he’s a rising force in men’s tennis. Known for his booming left-handed serves and fearless approach, Shelton is knocking on the door of a major breakthrough. While he fell short at this year’s Australian Open, his success at other events shows he’s always ready to fight. One such victory came at the Eisenhower Cup, an event he’s now looking to defend with his mixed doubles partner and fellow American Emma Navarro. The Indian Wells Masters will once again open with the fan-favorite Eisenhower Cup, an eight-team mixed doubles event. The action-packed showdown will take place on Tuesday, March 4, bringing together some of the biggest names in tennis. Six of the eight pairings have already been confirmed, with two more still to be announced. Here’s who’s set to take the court: •Aryna Sabalenka & Taylor Fritz •Emma Navarro & Ben Shelton •Madison Keys & Tommy Paul •Paula Badosa & Stefanos Tsitsipas •Katie Boulter & Alex de Minaur •Maria Sakkari & Casper Ruud Shelton and Navarro will be back to defend their title after winning the event last year, where they defeated Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The young American seems pumped for the challenge, even posting a throwback picture on his Instagram Story [https://www.instagram.com/stories/benshelton/3557899566751661538?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MWE5ZG9kZzVuZWt1cQ==] of him and Navarro lifting the trophy. Tagging his partner, he wrote, “Run it back.” Ben Shelton [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-05-10T114143Z_229220336_UP1EK5A0WHHNG_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-ROME.jpg] While the Eisenhower Cup is all about fast-paced, high-energy doubles action, the real grind begins the next day. Main-draw play at the BNP Paribas Open kicks off on Wednesday, March 5, with Carlos Alcaraz returning as the two-time defending champion. On the women’s side, Iga Świątek will look to defend her crown after taking down Maria Sakkari in last year’s final. Shelton had a solid run in Australia [https://www.essentiallysports.com/atp-tennis-news-australian-open-going-to-hit-the-ace-ben-shelton-attempts-to-take-positives-after-jannik-sinner-beating-at-australian-open-twenty-twenty-five/] but ultimately fell short in the semifinals against Jannik Sinner. The Italian had already beaten him four times before their clash in Melbourne, and he made it five with a dominant 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory. While Shelton showed flashes of brilliance, he struggled to break through Sinner’s consistent and aggressive game. How can the 22-year-old tennis player improve going forward? EX-ATP PRO BELIEVES BEN SHELTON HAS ROOM FOR GROWTH 7-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander recently shared his thoughts on Shelton’s game and what he needs to improve going forward. Speaking on the KickServeRadio.com podcast, Wilander praised the young American’s fearless approach but pointed out key areas for growth. “He’s viewed as an extremely dangerous player with a lot of talent not just in his hands but also physically,” Wilander said. “He tries really hard all the time and seems to embrace the moment, so he’s a great competitor as well. And because he’s won already, he knows how to get it done and he believes in himself.” But Wilander believes Shelton has reached a point where refining his game is crucial. He said, “I think he’s calmed down a bit in his shot selection. Now is the time when you add stuff. OK, what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna hit forehands and backhands, but we’re also gonna hit slice backhands, and we’re gonna serve and volley.” Before heading to Indian Wells, the American tennis player will make a stop in Texas to compete in the ATP 500 Dallas Open. With back-to-back tournaments lined up, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to fine-tune his game and build momentum heading into the spring hardcourt season. Shelton has already shown he has the weapons to compete with the best. Now, it’s about sharpening his skills and taking that next big leap. Will he rise to the challenge and make an even bigger impact this season? 

Deepali Verma is an All-Hands Editor at EssentiallySports. With close to a year of experience in Content Writing, she began her journey by writing a few off-court pieces on NBA players. But, when it comes to her editorial practice, she tries to ensure precision and hopes to learn from the writers while helping them. She firmly believes in improvement and looks at every day as a new opportunity to learn.

Having played basketball back in her school days, it is after a significantly long time that she has connected to the sport again. And this time around, it is on a more intense level. Away from work, she actively engages in reading and photography.

Deepali Verma

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-08-26T181104Z_1598241347_UP1EK8Q1EIE5D_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-USOPEN.jpg

Comment

Home

Tennis

EssentiallySports is a U.S.-based sports media platform built for modern fandom. We go beyond headlines to create storylines powered by athletes, fans, data, and culture, giving equal energy to the mainstream and the overlooked.

Harit Pathak

Suryansh Tibarewal

Jaskirat Arora

EssentiallySports

With racket in her heart and pen in her hand, Tanisha Kapoor is a tennis writer for EssentiallySports. A 2024 Masters in English Literature graduate, she has been following the sport for seven-years now. And has already authored over 150 tennis articles while being an intern. Trading a digital marketing career for the thrill of tennis writing, Tanisha is particularly drawn to Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner. Be it them ruling the No. 1 spots or rocking the tennis world with their doping controversy, Tanisha is always hooked to the thrill. When she's not courtside or crafting articles, she can be found lost in a book, solving a crossword puzzle, or immersing herself in the magic of cinema.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Tanisha-Kapoor-150x150.png

“Run It Back!”– Ben Shelton Shrugs Off Australian Open Setback As He Eyes Eisenhower Cup Defense with Compatriot

“Run It Back!”– Ben Shelton Shrugs Off Australian Open Setback As He Eyes Eisenhower Cup Defense with Compatriot

Ex-ATP Pro believes Ben Shelton has room for growth