Ben Shelton did a new victory celebration termed ‘hanging up the phone’ during his run to the US Open semi-finals. After Djokovic did it to ridicule Shelton after defeating him in the semifinals, other players began imitating the celebration, which has since grown in popularity.
Ben Shelton took advantage of the opportunity to launch his signature celebration as the Laver Cup spread out its glitzy red carpet for the occasion. Shelton’s call celebration caught the attention of spectators and other players in a moment of fervor.
Fans didn’t hold back when commenting on Shelton’s red-carpet performance. A few fans thought the 20-year-old was too arrogant and even made a comparison between him and Carlos Alcaraz.
One of the fans commented on Shelton’s phone celebration: “Obsessed with fame and a legend in his own mind.”
Another one wrote: “Oh man. More unlikable every week.”
One fan commented: “What a clown.”
Oh man. 🤦♂️ More unlikable every week… 🤷♂️
— Nils Jacobsen (@crackr) September 22, 2023
Ben Shelton in 2023
Now ranked no.19 (career-high), the American played his last match on the 22nd of September when he overcame world no.44 Arthur Fils 7-6(4) 6-1 in the round robin in the Laver Cup (draw).
During this season the American has an overall 20-23 record. Ben Shelton’s best accomplishment of the present season was reaching the semifinal in the Cagliari Challenger and at the U.S. Open.
He is also scheduled to play in Tokyo (Rakuten Japan Open). The main draw will start on the 16th of October.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Ranked world no.2, Carlos played his last match on the 8th of September when he lost to world no.3 Daniil Medvedev 7-6(3) 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the semifinal of the U.S. Open (draw).
This season Carlos has achieved a compiled 58-7 match record. The Spaniard conquered 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Carlos got to the final in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz squared off only once. Their record is 1-0 for Alcaraz. When they played, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-3 7-6(3) in the 2nd round in Toronto (National Bank Open) on the 9th of August 2023.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.