The much awaited clash of the US Open is moments away. American rising star Ben Shelton locks horns with the evergreen Novak Djokovic for a place in the final. The American has become the talk of the town with his flamboyant brand of tennis and made inroads in the home slam. However, the uphill task of beating the 23-time Grand Slam winner would require help from external forces as Shelton starts as a massive underdog.
Talking of external forces, the crowd is the first one that comes to everyone’s mind. Weather could also come to Shelton’s rescue as the 36-year-old opponent is likely to find warm conditions more challenging. However, the American prodigy has a certain Roger Federer‘s backing as he gears up for the biggest match of his career.
How does Roger Federer help Ben Shelton for the US Open?
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Roger Federer joined the sporting apparel company On in 2019. Since then, the company has seen massive improvements in their revenue structure. Despite having only 3% of the ownership, billionaire Federer has invested $180 million in the company. He has also been successful in attracting young tennis stars in Iga Swiatek and Ben Shelton.
Now that Shelton has signed a deal with On, it’s quite natural that he also uses their equipments. Although Swiatek does not use their shoes, Shelton has shown a liking for them. On’s famous signature Roger Federer shoe ‘Roger Pro‘ has been tailor made for tennis. However, some players do not find it comfortable for lateral movement. According to Complex, the sporting brand came up with an updated design ‘Roger Pro 2‘ which allows Shelton to move freely.
Federer sabía mucho cuando eligió a Shelton para ser embajador de su marca pic.twitter.com/JvskWPv4Re
— Set Tenis (@settenisok) September 6, 2023
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The American is now donning those shoes at the US Open. His performances have seen an enormous change ever since he changed his sneakers. After struggling to register consecutive wins since February, Shelton is in the final four of one of the biggest competitions in tennis, if not the biggest. His monumental win over Frances Tiafoe showed the world that he is willing to take on top guns.
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However, ‘top gun’ is an understatement for Shelton’s next task. Djokovic has his eyes on the 24th Grand Slam title and will look to outlast the American with his experience. Can Shelton come out on top against the odds with the additional help from Roger Federer? Let us know in the comments.
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