AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2024

Ben Shelton

Press Conference

A. MANNARINO/B. Shelton

7-6, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Last time you were in Australia you arrived to less fanfare. You made the quarterfinals and then made the US Open semifinals. What can you take out of a tournament like this where you didn't quite get to the level you did last year, but you've still made an impact?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I mean, I take a lot of confidence from the level of tennis I was playing, not just how deep I went in the tournament. I think my level in this tournament, these three rounds, especially this last round, stacks up against any match that I've played at any Grand Slam ever. I can take some of the same things.

Obviously I didn't have the huge, deep run or result that I had at the other tournaments, but a lot of positives to take away.

Q. What is it about playing left-handed players that causes you so much trouble? You're a lefty yourself. Is it the ball coming back differently to the way it normally does?

BEN SHELTON: I don't know if it's tougher for me to play lefties. I don't know. Do I have a bad record against lefties?

Q. Only according to the notes, you haven't beaten a left-hander at a Grand Slam. Do you know that?

BEN SHELTON: Is this the first left-hander I've played at a Grand Slam?

Q. There's been a few. Maybe the notes were wrong.

BEN SHELTON: It's the first left-hander I've lost to at a Grand Slam.

Q. Sorry, on tour. Last year how many did you meet?

BEN SHELTON: I couldn't tell you, man.

Yeah, there's definitely some different things that go into playing against lefties that make it difficult. The ball is obviously coming at you a different way. I tend to like the way that the lefty ball comes to me.

I didn't get the win tonight, but I was really happy with the way I competed.

Q. There were times out there on the court, there was chants of USA, USA, USA. There were French people yelling out allez, allez. You had a big vibe out there. Do you enjoy that kind of match?

BEN SHELTON: It was one of the greatest atmospheres in a match I've ever played in. You're right, a lot of USA chants. A lot of chants for France for five hours straight. Pretty unheard of. Just the level of noise for the whole five sets, so yeah...

Q. Some of the players on the show courts have complained about the fans coming in at the end of each game, and it sort of slows down matches. Is that something that you think people are just going to have to get used to, or does it bother you as well?

BEN SHELTON: No, it doesn't really bother me. It probably added a little bit of time to the match today. But I don't know, it's just life. I wouldn't even mind if we played while they were walking in. I don't even really see them or hear them.

But I know tennis rules say that everyone has got to be seated before play starts. Either way I could care less.

Q. You just prefer the vibe of having a crowd?

BEN SHELTON: I don't know if I would say 'prefer it', but I don't even see it or hear it.

Q. After today, how do you reset your goals for the season? What are you aiming at?

BEN SHELTON: I don't think I really reset my goals at all. I think they stay the exact seam. I said a couple of times in the weeks leading up that I like to keep my goals to myself, between me and my team. I think that's best for me. I'll let you guys know how I did reaching my goals at the end of the year.