Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American tennis player, has consolidated his place among the top names on the ATP circuit after defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open in the early hours of Wednesday (9/9), in a match lasting over four hours. The victory marked another chapter in the young athlete's rise in professional tennis.
Behind the success on the circuit, Shelton revealed a surprising initial motivation for taking the sport seriously at age 12. In an interview with the sports equipment brand that sponsors him and of which he is an ambassador, the tennis player stated that he started playing tennis mainly for the possibility of skipping school classes and traveling around the country.
The inspiration came from observing the routine of his older sister, Emma, who was already competing in junior tournaments outside the city. According to Shelton, upon seeing his sister traveling to different places to play competitions, he thought he would like to do the same, skipping school to practice sports and see new places.
