When you make a request for your sister to get a few days off, at a stage as grand as Court 1 at Wimbledon, chances are that the powers-that-be would hear it. USA’s rising tennis star Ben Shelton, cheekily enough, must have been aware of what he was doing when he name-dropped his sister Emma Shelton after his third-round win on Saturday.
“I’ve been playing well this week. It’s not just been me here. I have a great team. My parents are here. My girlfriend’s here. Also, my sister’s here. She’s been here for every match that I’ve played this tournament so far. She’s been the lucky charm,” said the 10th-seeded Shelton, a 22-year-old American who has appeared in two Grand Slam semifinals. “But she has work back in the U.S., starting on Monday. She works for Morgan Stanley.” That drew some boos from spectators as Emma covered her face with her hands. If any of you all have some connects and get her a couple extra days off so she can stay, we can keep this rolling.”
The camera panned to Emma in Ben’s box in the stands, and she covered her face with her hands. There were a few boos heard around from the Court No 1 crowd too, who were enjoying the freewheeling interview from Ben. Turns out, Emma had nothing to worry about as she is set to stay back in London. In an Instagram story posted by Shelton on Saturday, Ben is heard asking her, “You got the week off or what?” Emma jumps up and down with her arms raised and a wide smile, and as the camera pans back to him, Ben says, “Shoutout, Morgan Stanley.” Emma re-shared the Instagram story with an added caption that read: “Thank you MS, return flight: cancelled.”
After his 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary on Saturday, Ben Shelton is set for a stiff Italian test on Monday in the fourth round against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. In a fascinating coincidence, the odds of which must be pretty high mathematically in a field of 128 players of the main draw at a Major, Shelton and Sonego will face each other for the third straight Grand Slam this year. Shelton won both the previous encounters, in four sets at the Australian Open quarterfinal and five sets at Roland Garros in the opening round.
While Shelton is yet to drop a set at SW19 this week, Sonego has taken the scenic route, coming through a five-hour, four-minute epic against another American Brandon Nakashima 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(10-3).
While Shelton’s request for his sister to get extra days off from Morgan Stanley worked, his hope of playing at Center Court did not. “I had a lot of fun today. It is always special playing here at Wimbledon,” Shelton had said. “This is my third time playing on Court 1. It is a special atmosphere. I am trying to make my way to Centre, Court, maybe I will get there one day.” But it won’t happen on Monday, as he has been scheduled to play on Court No 1 once again. He played his first two matches on Court No 2. However, if the lucky charm keeps working and Shelton’s form holds, the Center Court beckons soon.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
