Ben Shelton calls Frances Tiafoe the 'biggest trash talker' in tennis: "He'll do it in the locker room, he'll do it on the court"
In a lighthearted moment, Ben Shelton has revealed that he thinks Frances Tiafoe is tennis' 'biggest trash talker.' According to Shelton, his compatriot Tiafoe isn't just vocal in the locker room, but also keeps the banter going on the court.
In an Instagram reel uploaded by the ATP Tour, Shelton was interviewed by YouTuber Sharky. The American tennis star was asked several candid questions which included:
"Who's the biggest trash talker?"
Shelton was quick to respond that it was his compatriot Tiafoe. The 21-year-old also justified his answer.
"Foe. Because he'll do it in the locker room, but he'll do it a little bit on the court too. He'll be like, 'hey, man, you're just way too good today,'" Ben Shelton said.
Shelton had previously also brought up Tiafoe's name in a playful tone when asked who he would call in an emergency. Although his choice was Mackenzie McDonald, Shelton joked that it definitely wouldn’t be Tiafoe, as the 26-year-old seemingly has a reputation for not picking up his phone.
Coco Gauff once revealed Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe began their trash talk days before their US Open 2023 QF
After her fourth-round win over Caroline Wozniacki at the 2023 US Open, Coco Gauff revealed that Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe had begun their trash talk days before they faced off in the quarterfinals of the event.
“After my match, Ben and Frances were in the cooldown area, or warmup area, and it was really just cool to see us all there,” Coco Gauff said during her post-match press conference.
“Obviously the conversation, they already started the trash talk. I'm indifferent who wins, but I did say that Frances is a little bit upset because I said Ben had the better outfit than him.”
Shelton and Tiafoe faced off on the court two days later and it was the unseeded Shelton who came out on top 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2. Notably, the two went head-to-head again in New York this year and 20th seed Tiafoe avenged his defeat with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Tiafoe was also involved in some lighthearted trash talk with Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their Wimbledon clash this year. The pair had each claimed they were coming for the other and eventually, it was the Spaniard who had the last laugh with a 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory in the third-round encounter.