The intense clash of racquets can sometimes overwhelm even the strongest player on-court. Ben Shelton is no exception. While on-court, he is known for his aggressive play style, his off-court experience as a kid reflects an emotional side of him.

During a conversation with Karthi Gnanasegaram in the Sky Sports Tennis Podcast, the U.S. Open semifinalist was asked- “What makes you cry?” The 21-year-old, after reflecting on the question for a little bit, answered, “I’m not a crier.” However, when asked about the times when he faced defeat in tennis matches, Ben Shelton had a contrasting answer.

“I used to cry when I lost matches. But now, I don’t do that anymore,” says Shelton, chuckling at the statement. Yet there was a depth in his laughter that hinted at his emotional journey in tennis. Ben Shelton’s relationship with his emotions has been visible since his early days on-court. Be it his passionate outbursts on-court or moments of vulnerability, Shelton likes to wear his heart on his sleeve.

One incident occurred during his round-four victory against Tommy Paul in the 2023 U.S. Open. There, he confessed how his victory was influenced by the emotions that he felt playing at Flushing Meadows. “I think it was straight adrenaline. In any other atmosphere, I don’t think I could get it done. I think my arm would fall off, but it’s feeling good right now.”

Remember his iconic ‘hang up the phone‘ celebration after victories? It not only signifies his signature move on-court but is also an expression of the loads of emotions that he feels while competing and winning against the top players of the world. Nevertheless, sometimes it can also ignite moments of fury on-court. This happened during the Italian Open this year.

Ben Shelton revealed how Kotov ignited “the fire” in him during their match

Ben Shelton has showcased his emotional side during some heated moments on-court as well. A notable instance was when he finished against Pavel Kotov in the first round of the Italian Open. When the Russian player gave Shelton the “No” finger wag and kept him waiting on his serve, he received a point penalty. 

Initially, Shelton remained calm, but later on, after winning the match, he admitted during an interview, “He gave me a couple of these (finger waging to suggest ‘NO’), so that kind of ignited the fire in me, and I think it’s part of the sport.” 

As Shelton continues to carve his path in the tennis world, his emotional maturity remains as compelling as his gameplay. The tears may have dried for Ben Shelton, but the passion that once brought them forth now fuels every shot he takes, capturing moments with unwavering intensity.