By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, January 20, 2025
Photo credit: ROLEX
Cheering for Gael Monfils gave a young Ben Shelton thrills.
Facing his tennis hero for the first time at the Australian Open prompted chills in Shelton.
More: Sinner and Cahill to Part After 2025
The 22-year-old Shelton led Monfils 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 1-0 when the 38-year-old Frenchman retired from their AO fourth-round match due to a back injury after two hours, 57 minutes of physical play.
The left-handed Shelton halted his hero’s eight-match winning streak one round after an inspired Monfils upset US Open finalist Taylor Fritz in a superb third-round win.
The experience gave Shelton “goosebumps.”
Afterward Shelton said playing the entertaining Monfils is challenging because it’s a journey of emotional extremes: from fan to fierce competitor.
“It’s always tough. The little kid in me always wants to see Gael win,” Shelton told the media…
Leave a reply