Ben Shelton blasts ‘embarrassing’ Channel 9 coverage

Golden oldies suspect the current generation are precious and pampered. Maybe they just aren’t used to a fondness in Australian broadcasting for taking the piss.

Jannik Sinner, Tony Jones and Ben Shelton.

Big game. Rocket arm. Sharp tongue. Bewildered by Channel 9 treating players like they’re participants on a banal reality TV show. I get Ben Shelton’s point. The line between Married At First Sight and Australian Open promotions has become a little blurred. Young folks like Shelton have no problem airing their incredulity and wonder.

They’re not angry, just disappointed, as twenty-somethings like to say, sticking the dagger into the hearts of golden oldies who suspect the current generation are precious and thin-skinned. Unprompted at the end of his press conference after his showtime, rock’n’roll victory over Lorenzo Sonego at Rod Laver Arena, catapulting Shelton into Friday night’s semi-final against Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old American said: “One thing I just want to say before we’re done.”

All rose and stood to attention. “I’ve been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters,” Shelton said. “I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak (Djokovic), I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself. I noticed it with Learner Tien in one of his matches. I think when he beat (Daniil) Medvedev, in his post-match interview, I thought it was kind of embarrassing and disrespectful, that interview.”

Tien’s on-court discussion with John Fitzgerald was more awkward than disrespectful. Fitzgerald told Tien 19-year-olds weren’t “meant to be that good” and “I know where you live, by the way.” Perhaps we should cut Fitzgerald some slack. It was after 2am. Then told Fitzgerald: “I don’t know what to say to that.”

Shelton said: “There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, ‘Hey, (Gael) Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad.’ Or today on the court, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?’ I mean, it may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life. I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments. I feel like there’s been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change.”

What Shelton isn’t accustomed to is the fondness in Australian broadcasting for taking the piss. The pub talk. It can be terrible and dumb. Occasionally, it’s fun. Suits boofhead footy players more than elite tennis players. When Jannik Sinner appeared on a segment called The Hundred, listening to the hosts talking about how many Australians wore underwear, he put a hand to his forehead and said, “Why am I doing this?”

Novak Djokovic is interviewed by Jim Courier on day 10 of the Australian Open. Picture: Getty Images

I saw one advertisement promoting the ladies involved in Married At First Sight and another featuring the women’s semi-finalists, and there was barely a difference in portrayal. Ash! Jacqui! Carina! Awhina! Madison! Arena! Anyway. On with the show.

Shelton versus Sinner. A match made in heaven. A cracker, a firecracker, featuring the fastest left arm in sport since Randy Johnson and the Italian whose form against Alex de Minaur was so flawlessly precise he resembled Player 1 in a computer game. Shelton will go big, maxing out at 230km/h serves and 160km/h forehands, because that’s the only way he knows to go.

“I’m not sure this is what I expected when my career started,” Big Ben said. “Honestly, as a kid, once I stopped playing football, I was always a little bit heavy. Not fat, just heavy, carrying a lot of weight. I always struggled physically. I would get deep in matches and I’d be cramping or tired and have no energy left … it’s really special to be playing at these big tournaments and playing my best tennis at the big tournaments.”

Fat kids rule. Sorry, heavy kids. Shelton gives the impression of red-lining in his matches, hitting every shot at full velocity, the devil may care for consistency, high on dynamic skills and showmanship, compared with Player 1, whose programmer has invented a character so understated and perfect, at his best, he’d beat Pong at his own game.

“I’m proud of myself,” Shelton says. “Definitely feel battle-tested. I don’t know about being a showman. I’m trying to be more focused on the court. I’m passionate about being out there and I love being out there and that energy comes out at times. In terms of showman, Gael (Monfils) is the GOAT. He will always be the GOAT. I see myself a little bit different out there. I’ve been trying to have blinders on when I play. Not notice too much outside the court and just get locked in from start to finish.”

Nick Kyrgios, of course, will throw his copy of The Australian across the room when he reads Monfils is the GOAT for showmanship. Shelton underestimates his own appeal. He’s actually toned down his act. He used to celebrate by slamming down an imaginary telephone. This was taken as Shelton hanging up on his opponent. Call’s over, dude. He reckoned it merely signified he was dialled in. Either way, the fake phone hasn’t been sighted at the Open, and yet his charisma is real. Shelton can hold your attention tying his shoelaces.

He keeps saying he’s not red-lining at the Open. Well, he’s at least a bright orange. “Your base game has to be good enough that you can win at 70 per cent or 80 per cent,” he says. “You don’t have to use everything in your arsenal and play perfect tennis to be winning. That’s really, really important for me. A year ago, if I had a bad serving day, it was an L [loss]. If I had a day where I came out and couldn’t hit my spots, it was automatic L.

“That’s the growth. I’ve been working every single day to become a more well-rounded player. If you only have one thing to rely on, you’re in trouble if your gun misfires or the chamber is empty.”

Jannik Sinner after beating Alex de Minaur to win through to the semi-final clash against American Ben Shelton. Picture: Getty Images

Sinner! My goodness. Roger Federer relished beating players at their home slams. In Melbourne, Paris, London and New York, he’d sit back and watch the locals hype up the chances of an upset and then stride out in his kingly robes and demolish the poor bugger, giggling all the way back to his hotel, and that’s what Player 1 did to Alex de Minaur, lording it up, reminding us of the vast difference between very good and great.

Shelton has the weapons de Minaur may give the shirt off his back for. What Big Ben needs to avoid against Player 1 is extended baseline rallies. Player 1 doesn’t lose prolonged baseline rallies.

“Calculated risk,” is what Shelton plans to take. “You have to choose your moments. You have to be confident in the things you trust. I don’t think I’ll be red-lining. If anything, in terms of my baseline play, I’ve been a bit more conservative this tournament.

“I’ve been okay with going deep in rallies but I’ll probably have to step that up in the semi-finals. I don’t think ‘red-lining’ is the term. It’s just a more aggressive game style, taking the ball a little earlier, or serve-and-volleying more, or taking the first ball and running in instead of, you know, hitting five or six forehands in a row … I think I’m figuring out ways to make guys uncomfortable without just playing at my upper limits and slapping.”

Sinner’s form is so white-hot you’re tempted to put a red line through anyone else winning the Open. But that’s the beauty of the majors. They’re not won at first sight. You have a blinder one night but you must return a couple of nights later and do it again. And again.

The cool of the evening, when the sun’s going down and conditions are slower, will suit Player 1, but Shelton will be pleasantly surprised by the crowd. I reckon he’ll get the majority of support. Plot twist! Reality TV at its finest.