Ben Shelton’s Celebration Haunting Him Ahead of Potential Clash with Novak Djokovic

Young American tennis sensation Ben Shelton is finding it hard to escape the controversy surrounding his infamous ‘hang up the phone’ celebration at the US Open. After defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals, Shelton unveiled the celebration, only to have Novak Djokovic respond with the same gesture after defeating him in the semi-finals. Despite attempting to downplay the incident, Shelton continues to face questions about it, and even Djokovic hints that the matter is not yet resolved.

In an interview with L’Equipe, Djokovic stated that his reaction was a response to Shelton not behaving correctly on and off the court. Australian player Nick Kyrgios has joined the discussion, expressing his amusement and support for Shelton’s celebration. He believes the incident adds excitement and attention to the sport.

Shelton’s next opponent at the Australian Open is Chris O'Connell, a player from Sydney who is impressed by Shelton’s explosive playing style. If Shelton advances in the tournament and Djokovic also progresses, they could potentially face off again in the fourth round. Shelton can expect more questions about his celebrated gesture in that case.