Ben Shelton is just a win away from becoming the first American to clinch a men’s singles Grand Slam title in 23 years in front of his home crowd at the US Open. However, before arriving at Arthur Ashe Stadium to challenge Alexander Zverev for his first Grand Slam final, he faced a question that stirred controversy.
During his on-court interview, former ATP player Chris Eubanks asked him about becoming the first black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
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“2003, since the last time an American man won this title, but it’s been since 1972 that a black man has played in the final of the U.S. Open, and it was Arthur Ashe. On Sunday, you will set foot on Arthur Ashe Stadium, looking to take your very first Grand Slam title. When you hear that, what goes through your mind as you prepare for Sunday?” Eubanks asked Shelton.
The 23-year-old didn’t address it. Instead, he expressed gratitude towards his parents, encouraged fans to support him in the final, and offered his condolences to all the families who were impacted by the 9/11 attacks.
“My dad, my mom, have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason that he was able to play tennis. Without her, you know, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today, so this one is for her. This one is for her, and I’m gonna need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy. I’m going for it here. I’m gonna leave it all on the court,” he responded to the question.
A section of fans lampooned Eubanks for his color-based question. Amid the uproar, some fans offered a different perspective that Shelton was honoring his grandmother, Regina Ann, “a black woman,” along with Arthur Ashe.
“Interesting take. I didn’t hear it that way. His grandmother, to my knowledge, was a black woman. So what I interpreted was that it was an honor not only to follow Ashe but also bc a black woman is the reason his black father played and, thus, the reason he played,” a user wrote on Threads.
“Ben has talked about being Black in tennis multiple times. Don’t start lying on that man because you just got here,” another user added.
The former World No. 29 posted a combination of emojis, indicating to say it louder and replied:
“🗣️🗣️‼️‼️”
Ben Shelton‘s father, Bryan, is an African-American and a former tennis player who spent nine seasons on the ATP tour. Shelton has often credited his grandmother as the fundamental pillar that enabled his father to become a professional tennis player.
Ben Shelton’s team received a crucial advice from Rafael Nadal before US Open
On Friday night in New York, Ben Shelton clawed back against fellow American Frances Tiafoe to clinch a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win in their semifinal encounter. His confidence soared to new heights after he outlasted an uphill battle against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set marathon in the quarterfinals, which concluded at 3:33 am.
The left-handed star arrived in blistering form after defending his title at the Canadian Open. However, he lost all the momentum after Jamie Faria sent him packing in the opening round at the Cincinnati Open. Ben Shelton’s father Bryan, who also serves as his coach, had spoken to Nadal about the challenge of overcoming the next tournament, a particularly tricky one especially after bagging a title.
“You’ve got to be able to get through that first one and have the day off, then be able to get your best tennis again the next week,” Nadal told them, according to Bryan (via Tennis World USA).
Ben Shelton will shift his focus to becoming the first male American to lift the Grand Slam title after Andy Roddick’s famous win at Flushing Meadows in 2003. The home favorite will need to deliver something special, considering Zverev holds a flawless 5-0 record against the American on the ATP tour.
Edited by Shyam Kamal