Novak Djokovic has more Grand Slam titles than rising young American star Ben Shelton has years on this Earth.
Arguably the greatest player of all time, Djokovic has dominated almost every player he has seen.
Shelton’s best hope in Friday’s U.S. Open semifinal is that Djokovic has never seen him and his eye-watering serve.
“Yeah, definitely a tough challenge,” Shelton said of facing Djokovic. “Whenever you play somebody for the first time — and someone who’s been in this situation so many times and come out victorious so many times — that’s in the back of your head. You just know how rock-solid the guy is and how mentally tough, how physically tough. So that’s definitely something that I have to game plan for.
“I also think it’s an advantage with my game style playing someone who’s never played me before. I can bring some things to the table that maybe you don’t see in your normal match … so I’m definitely going to try to bring some things to the table that are different and hopefully disruptive on Friday.”
With a men’s record 23 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has been dominant. Shelton is looking to disrupt with impressive athleticism, and a booming serve that is the ace-up-his-sleeve — literally and figuratively.
Shelton’s 76 aces and 149 mph top serve are both by far the best in this year’s U.S. Open.
He used that, and a willingness to go for big shots, to upset top 10-ranked fellow American Francis Tiafoe in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
“With Ben and his personality and just the way that he attacks life and tennis and everything, it’s always been about trying to rein him in, never about trying to get him to play outside,” said Shelton’s dad and coach, Bryan. “I’d always prefer it be this way because it’s hard to get someone to want to step up when they’re naturally timid or shy. For us, that’s never been a problem, not with Ben.”
But Djokovic — and Friday afternoon’s semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium — will be a different challenge.
Shelton, 20, was only two years old when Djokovic reached his first Grand Slam, and just five when the Serb raised his first major trophy.
For his part, Shelton — the youngest American man to reach the semis at the U.S. Open since Michael Chang in 1992 — is suitably respectful but seemingly not overawed.
“The final with Roger [Federer] at Wimbledon [in 2019], that was probably not the first time I watched one of his full matches, but the one that comes to mind that I remember watching one of his full matches,” Shelton said. “The way things are on tour with technology and everything these days, you can watch so much film on the people that you’re playing. I think that it’s a pretty even playing field.”
Shelton played the disruptor in the quarterfinals by changing speeds on his ground strokes, hitting top-spin rally balls before overwhelming Tiafoe with bombs.
Djokovic is too good not to hit a steady diet of fastballs, no matter how fast. The fact is, he’ll likely return the changeups, too.
The iconic Serb has won more major men’s titles than anybody in history.
Federer retired with 20 and Rafa Nadal, who has been injured since January, is sitting on 22.
Serena Williams retired last year with 23, tied with Djokovic and one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time mark.
Djokovic might’ve had more if his COVID-19 anti-vaccine stance hadn’t cost him a chance to compete in Flushing Meadows last year.
But now just two wins from history, he has his game face on.
“I’m trying to enjoy the moments on the court, but there is so much stress and pressure going on that it’s hard to have fun, so to say, on the court. It’s really about finding a way to navigate through the match and win a tennis match for me,” said Djokovic, calling Shelton “quick, very powerful” with “a lot of charisma.”
“In terms of my next opponent — I have to be ready for a great battle … I mean, Ben Shelton has been serving some bombs this tournament. When his serve is on, he’s a very difficult player to play against, especially because he’s lefty, as well.”
