Ben Shelton’s war of words with Novak Djokovic continues to rumble on
Ben Shelton is getting frustrated by his enduring battle with world No 1 Novak Djokovic – and he wants it to end now.
American youngster Shelton took part in a less than friendly battle with Djokovic in last year’s US Open semi-finals, with the Serbian mocking his rival as he finished the match by replicated his ‘phone down’ gesture as he sealed a win.
Djokovic was criticised for that action, but he didn’t hold back when asked to explain why he was keen to put his youthful rival in his place.
“This is my reaction to a provocation that came from the other side, it was a reaction against him,” Djokovic told L’Equipe ahead of his Australian Open defence.
“He did not behave properly, with respect, on court, and before the match.
“I’m never going to make fun of someone if they don’t do something first. Every time I lose I always give my opponent a hug, I congratulate him, I respect him and his team.
“If anyone places himself in the ‘unsportsmanlike zone’, I react.”
Inevitably, Shelton was asked about Djokovic’s inflammatory comments after he won his first round match against Roberto Bautista Agut.
“I don’t really have anything else to say on the whole US Open situation,” he declared.
“I feel like I’ve been asked about it constantly in the last four or five months. I feel like I’ve said my peace on the matter. I would rather just let it settle and move forward. We’re in Australia now, and we’re at the Australian Open and not the US Open anymore.
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“I’m just focusing on the Australian Open and happy and grateful to be here.”
It was a mature response from Shelton who appeared to be irked to be asked about Djokovic’s behaviour in yet another press conference.
He preferred to focus on his own ambitions in Melbourne, as he aimed to match or better his run to the quarter-finals last year.
“I feel like I’ve made some strides in certain areas of my game compared to last year,” he added.
“I think a much more solid baseliner. At this point of the year I feel like I’ve rounded out my game a little bit, and I’m not relying on my serve as much as I was last year.
“I feel myself being a little bit more comfortable in rallies that go past three or four shots. I feel maybe last year I heavily relied on plus-ones and winning the point in the first two or three shots.
“So I think that my shot tolerance has improved a bit. That just comes with playing so many great players in different places, different surfaces.”
Shelton’s eagerness to avoid discussion about Djokovic will be hard to avoid if he wins his next two matches as a meeting with the 10-time Australian Open champion may well beckon in the fourth round.
After Djokovic struggled to get through his first round match against Dino Prizmic, the rest of the draw in Australia may be daring to believe the great champion is losing some of his powers of invincibility.
Yet you write off the greatest player of them all at your peril.
