'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABeAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABggQAAIBBQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMEBQYREiExAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFBxEAAQQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQADM8ECYYH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMl6lirPLapulzWUitjksnoOOdHnWKsPYkYjlkVuKOgH5EShNSucNIhyPDRItf/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ben Shelton has finally gotten the chance to experience European clay for the first time in his career.
The 20-year-old raised the roof at Melbourne Park this year with his emphatic performance at the Australian Open. He chalked up remarkable wins over the likes of Alexei Popyrin and J.J. Wolf en route to the quarterfinals but couldn't fend off fellow countryman Tommy Paul.
After catching the eye of tennis lovers and critics around the world, the American will be eager to continue playing at a high level. He will next feature at the Estoril Open, which will also be his first ever appearance in a claycourt event on the main tour.
"Getting used to it," Ben Shelton replied to pictures of him training on the dusty claycourts in Europe.
The World No. 39 has only been a part of two claycourt tournaments in the United States and has reached the quarterfinals of the M15 Vero Beach event, which has been his best result so far.
Getting a taste of the red dirt in Europe will be an exciting experience for him, and he'll be looking forward to competing in top-level tournaments. Next on his calendar is the ATP 250 Estoril Open in Portugal, which is the first claycourt tournament to herald the road to the 2023 French Open.
"I’m really looking forward to the clay. To be able to use the higher bounces to my advantage, moving, and sliding. I’m really looking forward to getting on the red clay, " Ben Shelton said after his quarterfinal loss to Tommy Paul at the Australian Open
"Ben Shelton could be very interesting on clay"- Former World No. 4 Brad Gilbert
Former World No. 4 and professional tennis coach Brad Gilbert is optimistic about Ben Shelton's chances on clay. He thinks the youngster could do well on the slower, bouncy surface and challenge for important titles in the future.
While speaking to David Nainkin in an interview, ESPN analyst Gilbert gushed about the youngster's powerful serve and excellent movement, which are positive assets to have while competing on clay.
"With that bomb of a serve and his excellent movement, Shelton could be very interesting on clay," Brad Gilbert said
"Too many of our guys were just a serve and forehand. Now a lot more of our guys are more athletic so they can do more things. The cool thing about the current players is that they all play differently. They’re not the same type of players, and that’s interesting to watch,” Brad Gilbert said
The Olympic bronze medalist also mentioned that American players are better conditioned than earlier to compete on European surfaces. The shift from their traditional approach to training and their eagerness to adapt to foreign conditions have made it an interesting spectacle for viewers around the globe.
