Former Florida tennis star Ben Shelton calls out ‘disrespectful’ media at Australian Open

Posted by author January 23, 2025 Tennis

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Former Florida tennis champion Ben Shelton has taken the tennis world by storm since leaving Gainesville in 2022. He attracted more attention after advancing to semifinals Tuesday.

The Australian Open is near completion, and the biggest name in tennis right now isn’t the semifinalist and icon that is Novak Djokovic.

He comes from right here in Gainesville, and his name is Ben Shelton.

Shelton has continued his meteoric rise in Melbourne, where the 22-year-old advanced to his second Grand Slam semifinal after a four-set win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

Following the meet, Shelton caused a fever in the tennis world by criticizing the Australian media’s treatment of players at the tournament.

After answering his final question in the post-match press conference, Shelton said he was “shocked” at how players have been treated by the Australian media. He referred the much-publicized incident with Djokovic and the Australian broadcaster Tony Jones from Channel 9. After defeating Jiri Lehecka Saturday, Djokovic refused to conduct the post-match interview due to past comments from Jones.

Jones had called Djokovic overrated and a has-been, and made a dig at his supporters.

Shelton also attacked the interview done around 3 a.m. local time with American Learner Tien after defeating No. 5 Danill Medvedev in the second round. Shelton called that interview “embarrassing” and “disrespectful.”

The former Gator then referenced situations he encountered himself, such as questions like “Ben, how does it feel that no one will be cheering for you in your next match?”

He said comments like that from someone he’s never met is “not respectful.”

He proclaimed that broadcasters should help grow the sport and honor those who won matches, not the “negativity” he’s seen.

Tennis legend and Florida native Chris Evert said she agreed with Shelton and said on court interviewers try to “funny or make it about themselves.”

Shelton was born in Atlanta but moved to Gainesville when in 2005 when his dad, Bryan Shelton, became the Gators Men’s Tennis coach. Bryan coached Florida until 2023, when he retired to coach Ben full-time.

Ben attended Buchholz High School, where he won a state championship in 2019 and was the Sun’s two-time Boys Tennis Player of the Year. He then played for his dad at Florida. Ben clinched the program’s first national championship in 2021 as a freshman and was the NCAA’s Singles Champion in 2022.

He left Florida following that season and declared pro. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open (his second career tournament), and the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Open.

Shelton will battle top-seeded Jannik Sinner Friday morning at 3:30 a.m. ET on ESPN.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.