By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, August 29, 2024
Photo credit: Mike Lawrence/US Open/USTA
NEW YORK—Demolition expert Ben Shelton is dispensing damage with gentler touch at this US Open.
A year ago, Shelton served with the force of a man trying to bring down the back wall in his inspired run to the US Open semifinals.
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Tennis’ lefty master blaster rocketed a pair of 149 mph missiles twice in the same game during his 2023 US Open fourth-round conquest of compatriot Tommy Paul.
Immediately afterward, Shelton said bringing that sort of severe heat can bring burning consequences.
“I think [it was] straight adrenaline,” Shelton said. “Any other atmosphere, I don’t think I could get it done. I think my arm might fall off.”
This year, Shelton has intentionally toned down the volume of his screaming serve. The results have still been profound.
Shelton has scored straight-sets win over 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem and former Wimbledon semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut. In those six sets, Shelton has surrendered just nine points on his first serve—and saved all three break points he faced.
Still, Shelton rocked the radar gun at 141 mph closing the curtain on Bautista Agut.
The 13th-seeded Shelton said he’s found his rhythm serving smarter instead of trying to muscle the ball faster.
“When I say I’m a little bit more of an intelligent player, I think I’m getting through my service games this year without having to light up the radar gun to do it,” Shelton said. “Everyone in the crowd is screaming 150, 145, 150, but I found a really good groove maxing out at 134, 135 miles an hour.”
Clock management is pain management for Shelton, who says serving in the mid 130s is kinder and softer on his serving shoulder then unleashing screaming 148 mph missiles that electrified Arthur Ashe Stadium last year.
The 21-year-old Shelton is hoping toning down the pace a bit will save his arm strength for a second-week run.
“It sounds funny, but if I can stay a little bit lower at, like, 135 [mph], I don’t really have the shoulder soreness or pain after matches that I certainly had last year,” Shelton said. “I think it’s really important because it was something that was coming up for me when I got to the second week of slams that my arm was pretty tired, but I’ve gotten a little bit better at hitting spots.
“If I hit a spot at 135…
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