American star Ben Shelton has chosen Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as his dream opponents at the iconic US Open Arthur Ashe Stadium. In a video for the US Open, Shelton was asked to reveal his dream opponent at the US Open.
Shelton, who reached the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters last week, said it would be either Federer or Nadal. “It has to be Federer or Nadal, for sure. One of those two. I mean they’re the two I’ve grown up watching.
Obviously, Federer is the classiest guy, the face of tennis, so one of them, to be able to play against them one day, would be very good,” Shelton said. Steve Johnson, who faced Federer at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon in the past, he has chosen the Swiss as his dream opponent to face off in the Arthur Ashe.
“It would definitely be Roger, just because I have a lot of respect for him. I’ve played him on Center Court in Australia and at Wimbledon. So I’d love to play him here again,” Johnson said. Last week, Shelton stunned Lorenzo Sonego and 2022 French Open finalist Casper Ruud.
Shelton, who announced his decision to forgo the last two years of college and turn pro on Tuesday, opened up about his admiration for Federer and Nadal in Cincinnati. “I definitely admired Federer. Nadal is the clear choice because I am also a southpaw.
I like Federer’s class, the aura that surrounds him, and the way he behaves on the court both in victory and loss.”
Chris Evert on King Roger
Tennis legend Chris Evert reckons it will take a “Herculean effort” from Roger Federer to make a comeback.
“He has four kids and he has such a great life in Switzerland and he’s got — he’s all set up with businesses. And he’s just…it would take a Herculean effort to get back to the top, not even No.
1 but back to the top five. I think that would be a Herculean effort, I really do,” Evert said. Evert is of the opinion that anything decisive can be said about his retirement only after he plays his first proper tournament.
“I don’t know how he’s training. I don’t know if he’s really eager and hungry or if he’s like very satisfied with the life he’s living. I think we’ll be able to tell just by the first tournament he plays what’s really going on with him,” Evert said.
“But I don’t know. I just…as we’ve said before, to each his own. Everybody retires on their own time and for their own reasons.”
