By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, September 14, 2024

Bryan Shelton has a message for Novak Djokovic.

You're a fantastic champion, however your post-match mockery of my son was a chump transfer.

More: Djokovic Captures twenty fourth Grand Slam Title

Moments after dismissing Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4) to achieve his record-tying tenth US Open closing, Djokovic emphatically hung up on Shelton mimicking the 20-year-old American's trademark celebration of hanging up a telephone on opponents.

The sarcastic Djokovic gesture instantly went viral although Shelton himself stated he did not see it till after he was off courtroom.

In a brand new interview with GQ Magazine, Bryan Shelton, a former ATP professional who coaches his son Ben Shelton, echoed feedback Nick Kyrgios has made that Djokovic desires to be favored.

However, the senior Shelton says Djokovic's post-match hang-up antics crossed the road into mockery and disrespect.

“He wants to be loved so much, Novak …” Bryan Shelton informed GQ. "He wanted to mock Ben at the end.

"It wasn’t one thing he was doing simply to repeat Ben. It was to mock him. And that’s too dangerous, for that to come back from such a fantastic champion.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion stated the snarky send-off was all in good enjoyable and a tribute to Shelton's celebration.

"And I just love Ben's celebration," Djokovic stated after the match. "I thought it was very original, and I copied him. I stole his celebration."

Shelton smiled off Djokovic's jab in his post-match presser saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

"I didn't see it until after the match," Shelton stated. "You know, I don't like when I'm on social media and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can't celebrate. You know, I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want.

"You know, as a child rising up, I all the time realized that imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, in order that's all I've to say about that."

us after they name about our automobile’s prolonged guarantee.pic.twitter.com/M39UlKWfxu

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Novak Djokovic hangs up the telephone on Ben. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/AvMD9kPY2N

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

COLD ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ https://t.co/IeWH6GtAFj

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) September 9, 2023

Contesting simply the fifth Grand Slam event of his profession, AO quarterfinalist Shelton stated he hopes he will get one other shot at world No. 1 Djokovic.

Photo credit score: Mike Stobe/Getty

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