Ben Shelton kept on doing his trademark “dialed-in” celebration after leading Team World to victory over Team Europe at the 2023 Laver Cup. The celebration caused controversy after it appeared like Novak Djokovic mocked the American by imitating the act after defeating the 20-year-old in the US Open semifinals.
Shelton brought his celebration to the Laver Cup. To the annoyance of some tennis fans, he displayed it on the red carpet and repeated it after defeating Arthur Fils of Team Europe. The American was also seen talking to Team World captain John McEnroe about the celebration.
Ben Shelton replicated his trademark celebration after he and Frances Tiafoe defeated Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets to secure Team World’s triumph, and then they shared a chest bump.
A supporter expressed irritation at Shelton’s constant repetition of the celebration and wrote on Twitter: “I am one more phone celebration away from jumping off a bridge btw.”
Another fan commented: “Cringe.”
One fan wrote: “Why is he so annoying?”
Ben Shelton hanging up the phone and then doing the chest bump celebration with Big Foe after winning the Laver Cup! đź“žđź«‚ pic.twitter.com/TnVowZYZkx
— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) September 24, 2023
I am one more phone celebration from jumping of a bridge btw.pic.twitter.com/y3MuzI0tAV https://t.co/YEyjCfjnpA
— Martin (@PojdBase) September 24, 2023
Ben Shelton in 2023
Ranked world no.19 (career-high), Shelton played his last match on the 22nd of September when he defeated world no.44 Arthur Fils 7-6(4) 6-1 in the round robin in the Laver Cup (draw).
Presently, during this year the American has managed to achieve a 20-23 match record. Ben Shelton’s most significant result of the present season was getting to 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.
