Few Serve as Large as Shelton

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, September 4, 2023

NEW YORK—Describing Ben Shelton’s deadly lefty serve is usually a problem.

That’s as a result of when Shelton is rocking the radar gun with 149 mph missiles as he did in his 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4 US Open win over Tommy Paul, his first serve is principally a blur.

Murray: Major Runs May Be Done

Andrey Rublev watched Shelton’s seismic serving efficiency and says the 20-year-old American is already among the many greatest servers within the sport with 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios and the now retired John Isner.

“Guys like Shelton, there’s one, two players with that power of the serve. I was very impressed when I saw it,” Rublev advised the media after he defeated Jack Draper 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to achieve his second straight US Open quarterfinal. “But I knew since he started to play on tour that he have amazing serve. It’s one of his main weapons.

“I do not know, you at all times have these gamers. Nick Kyrgios, for instance, Isner, Raonic, who serve large. Obviously with these gamers, you should have tremendous focus, particularly in your serve, then to attend in your second on return.”

Australian Open quarterfinalist Shelton will attempt to trip his rocket serve right into a maiden Grand Slam semifinal when he faces 2022 US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe tomorrow.

Photo credit score: Mike Lawrence/USTA  

Photo credit score: Mike Lawrence/USTA/US Open