Ben Shelton apologizes to Taylor Fritz for ‘Veteran’ comment at Laver Cup

Ben Shelton apologized to Taylor Fritz for calling him a "veteran" after their Laver Cup doubles victory, lightening the mood.

Ben Shelton Apologizes To Taylor Fritz For 'veteran' Comment At Laver Cup

After a hard-fought doubles win at the Laver Cup, Ben Shelton found himself in an awkward but humorous situation with teammate Taylor Fritz. The duo defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev 7-6, 6-4, helping Team World take a crucial lead.

During a post-match interview, Shelton praised Fritz, calling him a Laver Cup “veteran,” while acknowledging the intense atmosphere. “Taylor is a Laver Cup veteran, or a vet in general,” Shelton remarked before quickly backtracking. “I’m not calling you old.” Fritz playfully responded, “Vet, I don’t know. I’m not that old.”

Realizing he may have offended Fritz, Shelton quickly apologized, saying, “Sorry, bro. That was out of pocket.” The exchange highlighted the camaraderie between the two, even in the high-pressure environment of the Laver Cup. Their playful banter added a lighthearted moment to an otherwise intense competition.

Ben Shelton in 2024

Ben Shelton

42 - 26win/loss

Hard
22-13
I Hard
8-5
Clay
8-4
Grass
4-4
22 year old
LLWLWWWWLW
2024 Highlights

Ranked no.17, Shelton played his last match on the 30th of August when he capitulated to world no.16 Francis Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).

This year Ben has achieved a 32-20 match record. This year, Shelton clinched 1 title in Houston.

Ben Shelton will take on the world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the Round Robin. Their actual record is 1-0 for Alcaraz.

Ben clinched 1 title in 2024 in Houston.

Shelton
U.S. Open
Shelton's Record

Taylor Fritz in 2024

Taylor Fritz

53 - 23win/loss

Hard
22-10
I Hard
6-4
Clay
15-7
Grass
10-2
27 year old
WLWWLWLLWW
2024 Highlights

Now ranked no.7, Fritz played his last match on the 8th of September when he lost to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the final of the U.S. Open (draw).

This year Taylor owns a 44-17 record. Fritz has won 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. The American reached the final in Munich and U.S. Open.

Taylor Fritz will take on the world no.9 Casper Ruud in the Round Robin. Their head to head is 2-1 for Ruud.

Taylor has won 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. Fritz reached the final in Munich (BMW Open) and at the U.S. Open.

Taylor won 9 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Fritz
U.S. Open
Fritz's Record

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz faced off only on 1 occasion. Their head to head is 1-0 for Fritz. When they played, Taylor Fritz won 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) in March 2023.

You can watch the highlights in the following video.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz

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