The cheers and applause felt distant as the victory slipped away just days after matching his father’s remarkable feat of reaching the fourth round at the All-England Club. It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions for Ben Shelton at Wimbledon. The highs of accomplishment were quickly followed by the lows of defeat, turning Shelton’s journey into a whirlwind of feelings. In these trying times, Shelton needed support the most, and that’s exactly what he got from his compatriot Danielle Collins.

The American tennis sensation faced a major setback on Sunday. Known for his impressive comebacks, as evidenced in all three matches he played at Wimbledon, many expected him to bounce back. But it was the Italian dynamo Jannik Sinner who carried forward his campaign in style, defeating Shelton in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(9). However, this defeat did not deter the 21-year-old from his dream of winning a Grand Slam title, and he is already eyeing a stronger comeback next year.

Taking to his Instagram, Ben Shelton shared a picture of himself from the tournament expressing his zeal to fight back fiercely. “Keep digging ⛏️ I’ll be back @wimbledon,” captioned the tennis star. He received immense support, with one of the first to cheer him being his WTA compatriot, Danielle Collins.

Danielle Collins is known not just for her aggression but also for her soft-hearted gestures. She once again showed this through her comment on Ben Shelton’s post. Responding to Shelton’s post, ‘Danimal’ commented, “You’ll be back better than ever 💙 🧡.” This statement will surely uplift the budding star, who aspires to achieve big in his young career. This is not the first time Collins has supported a dejected player like Shelton.

‘F it…’ When Danielle Collins came in support of her fellow player Beatriz Haddad Maia

Tennis, like any other sport, is full of emotions. The scenes were similar on Saturday when Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia lost in the third round to Danielle Collins. After the match, Maia shook hands with Collins. What initially seemed like calm soon turned heated as the Brazilian smashed her racquet against her kit bag.

While many criticized her for the gesture, Collins was quick to speak in her favor. Speaking at the post-match interview, the 30-year-old said, “We get framed as emotional and frustrated and this and that. I just say ‘F it.’ I’m going for it. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m always gonna bring the passion.” 

The WTA star is all set to face Barbora Krejčíková in the fourth round of the tournament on Monday. Can she continue her winning momentum? Only time will tell.