Shelton’s father reveals Nadal’s advice ahead of US Open final run
Ben Shelton took advice from Rafael Nadal before his break-out run to the US Open final. The 23-year-old from Florida beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
Ben Shelton, a 23-year-old tennis player from Florida, drew inspiration from Rafael Nadal's advice ahead of his remarkable run to the US Open final. After defeating Ethan Quinn in the first round of the Halle Open, Ben's father, Bryan Shelton, reached out to the 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal for guidance. Nadal's words proved pivotal, helping Ben recover from a tough first-round match in Cincinnati, which he had lost after previously winning the tournament.
Nadal's advice emphasized the importance of bouncing back from both success and adversity, a lesson Ben applied to his subsequent match against Frances Tiafoe, where he ultimately advanced to the US Open final. If he can follow his father's advice again, Ben Shelton could become the first black American man to win the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and the first home male player to secure the title since Andy Roddick in 2003.
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