As expected, Ben Shelton did his part to put on a great show at “The Garden Cup” exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Though he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a tiebreak game after each man won one set, Shelton showed his spectacular serve, athleticism, and touch.
Dr. Carlos Alcaraz helping Ben Shelton at The Garden Cup
Wait for it 😂pic.twitter.com/kqlntpIxZw
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 5, 2024
After the match, Shelton was asked if he will bring a Grand Slam home to the USA in 2025. It has been 21 years since Andy Roddick won the US Open, and fans are eager for an American man to climb the summit and do it again. Taylor Fritz got close this year at the US Open, but the drought continues.
Ben Shelton got a lot of grief early in his career for his showmanship that some (Novak Djokovic in particular) found disrespectful. His maturity was evident in his answer.
What Ben Shelton Said
Shelton did not want to talk about his personal chances. He wanted to focus on the top American men in tennis. He cited Taylor Fritz‘s success in 2024. Shelton mentioned how both he and Frances Tiafoe got to the US Open semifinals. He said that the American men are improving each year. Shelton ended by saying they understand there are Spaniards and Italians to chase.
That was a team-first and humble answer from Shelton that was spot on. The American men are getting better each year. The team is deep. He did not mention the others including Sebastian Korda and Tommy Paul.
The Spaniards, most notably Carlos Alcaraz, are formidable. Jannik Sinner is leading the Italian charge. Provided he can stay healthy, Matteo Berrettini is an Italian force to be reckoned with.
What Ben Shelton Did Not Say
Americans are not the only men’s tennis players improving. Alex de Minaur proved that the Australians are taking big steps forward. Alexander Zverev finished the season as World No. 2 and is surprisingly still on the quest for his maiden Grand Slam.
Everyone is getting better. Who improves the quickest and dethrones the Spaniards, Italians, and one noteworthy Serbian named Novak Djokovic remains to be seen.
