John McEnroe’s tennis knowledge was on full display during a Laver Cup action on Saturday as the American tennis legend noticed one thing about Ben Shelton that may be preventing the 21-year-old from elevating his game to a new level.
Over the weekend, the world No. 17 took on Carlos Alcaraz in Berlin – and although he competed solidly against the four-time Grand Slam champion – he ended up getting bounced in two sets 6-4 6-4. Throughout the match, there were chances on both sides. But the difference was that the world No. 3 converted them while the American didn’t manage to do so.
And during one changeover, the cameras picked up McEnroe’s conversation with Shelton. At the start of his message, the former seven-time Major winner started by complimenting the 2023 US Open semifinalist before adding that he was at times lacking discipline on every shot. Also, he added that in certain points, there’s just no need to go for all in.
“I believe you’re gonna be top five in the world, okay? But you want to get there. 95 out of 100 players wouldn’t even have returned that serve you just hit. But you gotta be disciplined on every shot, okay? You can’t be like, ‘The point should’ve been over, I’m going for broke.’ You play it a little safer, that’s all,” the 65-year-old told the world No. 17.
McEnroe added more on Shelton in the presser
Just before the 2023 US Open, the 21-year-old decided to officially go pro. And shortly after making that decision, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at Flushing Meadows – won his maiden ATP title in Tokyo – and broke into the top-20. Since then, he has won another title in Houston, as well as reached a career-high of No. 13 this past August.
But while Shelton hasn’t managed to make a really strong result at the Slam or Masters level this year, McEnroe believes he is trending in the right direction, and with the right attitude and mindset, he can become a top player in the future.
“I see Ben in the top five in the world if he keeps progressing. I think he’s got the ability. He wants it. He’s worked at it. He’s better than he was to me a year ago, more complete. But I think he’s going to be up there with those guys, and that would be great. You know, I think American tennis is getting closer. You saw Taylor was in the final. Frances has been in a couple semis. Ben’s been in the semis. We’re going to make the breakthrough. Ben, I believe, is going to make a breakthrough in the next couple of years,” the legend explained.
John McEnroe and Ben Shelton© YouTube screenshot
McEnroe has been high on Shelton for quite some time
Over the last year, the former world No. 1 has spoken very highly of the 21-year-old’s talent multiple times. At this past Wimbledon, the American made his first round-of-16 before losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in three sets. However, some would say that it was still a great run and that he could have easily gone further had he avoided playing the top seed.
Meanwhile, some other American did better as Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul reached the quarterfinal at The Championships. Reflecting on that, McEnroe said his pick for the deepest run was Shelton before revealing he expects the promising American to unlock his full potential in the next couple of years.
“Well I was hoping it’d be Ben Shelton. He made some great advancements and for us in America, it’d be huge. He wasn’t just focused on tennis at ten years old, he played American football, a hell of an athlete, and went to college for a couple of years. Hopefully, he’ll peak later, maybe 20-something, 25-35,” the former seven-time Slam champion said on the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios.
After impressively making the 2023 US Open semifinal in one of his first Slam tournaments, the 21-year-old saw some big predictions being made about him. But earlier this year, he tried to downplay his own expectations by saying he was just taking it one day at a time.
“I feel like no matter what you say in the press, someone’s going say: ‘Oh, you shot too high or you shot too low.’ So I’m going to keep my result-based goals between me and my team … I don’t have anything in my mind that I’m really setting out for yet. I feel like I don’t want to put a ceiling on myself and what I can achieve. I just want to take things one step at a time and see where I am at the end of this year,” Shelton explained earlier this year.