Trying to knock off Novak Djokovic is not an easy task for any tennis player and Ben Shelton saw firsthand what it takes to unseat the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
Appearing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, Shelton was unable to break the Serbian and ultimately lost 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). However, it was not an easy match for Djokovic.
The 20-year-old from Atlanta showed his inexperience throughout the match but tried to get the crowd on his side with a late stand.
The main talking point following the match wasn’t about the match itself but rather Djokovic’s celebration.
Djokovic mimicked Shelton’s “Hang up the phone!” celebration. As the players approached the net, Djokovic offered a much colder handshake than you normally see.
Shelton has received a lot of attention during the tournament for his power as well as his shouts of “Yeah!” or biceps flexes after winning points. To celebrate a match win, he pretends his hand is an old-style telephone handset that he slams down.
It’s a celebration he borrowed from former Florida track and field athlete Grant Holloway, a world champion hurdler. Shelton won an NCAA singles title for the University of Florida last year.
When asked about Djokovic’s end-of-match gesture, Shelton stated that it didn’t bother him.
“I don’t like when I’m on social media and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can’t celebrate. I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want,” Shelton said with a smile. “As a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so that’s all I have to say about that.”
Djokovic will now either face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz — who defeated Djokovic for the Wimbledon title in July — or 2021 U.S. Open champ Daniil Medvedev in the final.
For Shelton, American tennis fans are hoping he can one day end a long-standing drought. The last time an American man won a Grand Slam was 20 years ago when Andy Roddick captured the 2003 U.S. Open.