Tue Oct 22 13:50:00 UTC 2024: Ben Shelton, the American tennis star ranked 17th in the world, is preparing for the Swiss Indoors in Basle while also focusing on the upcoming Davis Cup match against Spain. The match is significant as it will be one of Rafael Nadal’s final competitions before his retirement at the end of the year. Shelton expressed his apprehension about potentially facing Nadal, acknowledging the pressure and anxiety such a match would bring. He noted that he has not had a particularly successful 2024 season, with his best performances being reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals at the Cincinnati Open.
Shelton has never faced Nadal in his career, as their paths have not crossed yet. He spoke with Gael Monfils about the prospect of facing Nadal in the Davis Cup, describing it as a “nightmare” and hoping to avoid the situation. Despite being able to compete with top players, Shelton’s recent performance has led him to prefer avoiding the added pressure that would come with facing a legend like Nadal in a high-stakes match.
First Piper 