"I'm not afraid of anyone" - Ben Shelton brimming with confidence ahead of facing World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon 2024 4R
Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner came through contrasting wins to book a fourth-round showdown at Wimbledon. While the top seed cruised to a straight-set victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, the American battled through a tough five-set clash against Denis Shapovalov.
With the tournament progressing, games are bound to get tougher, but Shelton remains unfazed, even at the prospect of facing World No. 1 Sinner.
Speaking to the media during his post-match press conference after the third round, Shelton expressed excitement ahead of the contest. The American acknowledged that Sinner would present a great challenge, but added that he was not scared of any opponent. He also heaped praise on Sinner, saying that his results were nothing short of impressive. Notably, the Italian lifted his maiden Grand Slam crown at this year's Australian Open and later ascended to the World No. 1 ranking.
"I'm really excited to take him on," Ben Shelton said. "The successes he's achieving are impressive, I'm aware that it's a difficult challenge and a great test, but I also see it as a good opportunity."
"I'm going out there to compete to the maximum, I'm confident in myself and I'm not afraid of anyone," he added.
"There are many things I like about playing five sets" - Ben Shelton after setting up Jannik Sinner showdown
All of Ben Shelton’s three match wins at this year's Wimbledon have come in five-set marathons. The American said there were many things he liked about playing five-set encounters, including the fact that they allow players to test their physicality. Further reflecting on his tactics, Shelton said he has learned that power is not always the answer, and he actively looks to place his shots, serves in particular, well.
"There are many things I like about playing five sets. It's a tremendous physical test and allows you to make different tactical adjustments during the match. It creates a game within the game that is very nice," Shelton stated.
"I've understood that I don't have to force my arm too much and always look for powerful serves, but rather change speeds and only show maximum power at specific moments," he added.
Sinner and Shelton will clash in the highly-anticipated fourth-round encounter on Monday. The Italian leads their head-to-head 2-1. He won their most recent encounter, which came at Indian Wells earlier this year.