US OPEN

August 24, 2025

Ben Shelton

Press Conference

B. SHELTON/I. Buse

6-3, 6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I just wanted to ask you a little bit about your on-court interactions with your dad, just because it's so unique. Not everybody reacts the same way. But you guys do a decent amount of exchanging back and forth. Just talk about that a little bit.

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I think it's probably become less just the more secure I feel in myself and what I'm doing out there.

But it's a balance. There's things that, you know, I want to hear that I want advice on out on the court. I think that he's lighter nowadays in what he gives me and how much he gives me.

But, yeah, there are some signals now and again. But yeah, I think that we found a good balance of how much is the right amount out there. For the most part, he's just letting me do my thing.

Q. A question about On.

BEN SHELTON: Watch yourself (smiling).

Q. I guess what advantages did they present that maybe other brands weren't at the time? How did they make themselves stand out when you were back in '23 kind of choosing amongst sponsors?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, for me, obviously I hadn't gotten really started in my career yet. I hadn't broke through. They were one of the few brands that really wanted me at that time.

They were an up-and-comer as well, and now have evolved into one of the biggest footwear-sneaker companies in the world. It's been cool to kind of see the growth of myself through On and then also see On's growth since I've been with them.

So for me being one of a few athletes that they have, obviously the roster is getting bigger, but being their first athlete in tennis or head to toe -- heard of this guy Roger Federer -- I thought was a cool opportunity. And yeah, excited that I have been with them.

Q. Something I was talking about with Frances the other day about would you like to see tennis sort of ease up a little bit on, like, decorum and etiquette? We were talking about the thing that happened with the Track and Field Championships with Lyles and Bednarek. It was a huge thing and everyone was talking about it. How do you feel that sort of stuff would go down in tennis? Would you like to be in more of an atmosphere that a lot of your friends in college were in, not tennis friends but your track and football friends?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I understand respect and respecting your opponents and the traditions of tennis. At the same time, I think that people get called out for little things or the wrong things that it's, like, Really? We're going to give someone a hard time about that? Or having a simple conversation with somebody, is, like, looked down upon.

I think it's just the norm of our sport. It's how it's always been. I think that there is certain people who look down on it that way and certain people, like you said, who would love to see more of it.

I think that having a younger crowd in tennis is really important in attracting younger fans, the future fans of our sport. You know, the kids love the flair and the excitement and the competition and Lyles shoving -- sorry -- Bednarek shoving Lyles and them talking about it in the press conference afterwards. It's exciting. Now when they go to Tokyo for the World Championships, something is on the line and everyone is tuning in.

That's just sports. I think there's a balance. I'm not really sure. I don't have a side on it.

Q. You started the match with Althea Gibson's family on court, and she's getting a lot of love this year, justifiably so. Your thoughts on her contributions to the sport, people like her and Ashe.

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I think it's huge. She was "the" trailblazer for African Americans in tennis. If it wasn't for her, obviously that's who we're honoring right now, and Arthur Ashe, as well, the stadium is named after.

You know, who knows if my dad is ever playing tennis as a Black kid in Alabama in the '70s and '80s. You know, it still wasn't easy, obviously. But I think that they're the ones who made it possible.

So, yeah, it was a great honor to kind of be on court with her family at the start of the match today. The nicest people ever.

That was a cool experience and honor for me.

Q. With you being one of the young talents in this game, with this being the US Open, I'm interested to know how do you look at this platform from your perspective maybe as a showcase for yourself, being your home country, and then showcase for the American men competing in it, as well?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I think it's cool. It's cool, because, you know, this is the biggest stage for us, and we always seem to play our best.

You know, Frances plays the best tennis of the year here. I like to think that I do, as well. Obviously ran into him third round last year, but still, one of my favorite matches of the year when I go back and watch it, one of the highest levels that I played all year in 2024. Obviously Fritz was in the final, which is his best Grand Slam result. But all the other guys I feel like are really dangerous here too.

For me to be a part of that energy, I think that there's a lot of guys who are really hungry here, Americans who maybe haven't had a run yet here, but it's just a matter of time.

Yeah, all of us are pushing to do our own thing, but also, for sure, cheering on the other guys.

Q. How much do you look at the matches you've just played versus look at the match ahead? What's that balance after a match and in the days before your next one, looking back versus looking forward, and how do you integrate the information from what you've done and what you hope to do?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah. I mean, we debrief, talk about the match. Having two days you have time to work on some things.

So I think that day one is more trying to shore up a few things that maybe I didn't feel great about in the first round. Day two is more of a concerted effort to implement things that are going to be effective in my next match.

I'm not a guy who looks forward in the draw. You know, I like to know a day or two days before who I play. I haven't even looked who I play in the next round.

Obviously having two days off, that's a ways away on Wednesday, but I take it one step at a time. You know, as the match gets closer, I'm watching film and trying to break some things down.

But yeah, I think that the shift over usually is, like, if I'm playing a day match, by the time I wake up the next morning, I'm looking forward than looking back.

Q. You mentioned Arthur Ashe, and he reflected at different times about certain racial incidents that occurred early in his career especially. Did your dad ever talk about any things that happened, any incidents as he emerged as a player or not so much?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I think that, you know, my dad has a great outlook on things, because as difficult as things were for him, he always thought that he was in control of his own destiny. He didn't want to handicap himself by thinking he was behind anyone else, whether it was getting into a great college and finishing a very difficult engineering degree, or being a professional tennis player.

I mean, yeah, there's moments where he's told me stories of tournaments that he showed up, played, even won as a young kid, and then when he tried to enter the next year they didn't let him play. Yeah, it's not something I'm blind to or he's blind to. Those things are real.

But at the same time, you know, he had a pretty good career as a player, as a student, and now as a coach. He's always thought he was in control of his own destiny, and I think he proved that.

Q. Watching practice is always pretty amusing to me. When the practice hour is up and time for a new player to come on court, sometimes the player on court clearly doesn't want to get off and they want to hit a few more serves or play a few more games. Has that ever been awkward for you? Have you ever experienced where someone maybe wouldn't get off the court for five minutes, a few more minutes?

BEN SHELTON: Five minutes, no, that's never happened to me. For me if I see someone trying to finish something up, maybe was one, two minutes over, I'm not too stressed. Usually you give someone a couple of minutes, someone behind you gives you a couple of minutes.

I have never had, like, an awkward encounter since I've been on tour, to be honest.

I feel like I've probably seen some. I can't remember like who or where. But, no, for me, it's always been respectful, easy transition (smiling).