Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff have been subject to rumors about dating each other. Ben sees Coco as a mentor because she knows more about the tour, being the senior pro among the two of them. Despite being only one year younger than Ben, Coco turned professional 4 years before Ben.
Ben Shelton recently cleared the air on these rumors when he confessed that Coco was like a little sister to him. Nevertheless, they share a strong friendship bond, which helps them support each other in their tennis journeys. They have been often watched on social media exchanging playful banter with each other.
Ben Shelton has shed light on the challenges and scrutiny faced by players like him in the modern age of tennis. Ben revealed, “At the US Open, there were cameras and microphones everywhere. I went to chat with Coco Gauff in the gym, and they saw and heard everything. There’s no private space when people are always watching, even in your hotel room.”
🇺🇸 Ben Shelton, speaking to GQ Sports:
“I’m not gonna lie, I check social media from time to time. I can use that for fuel, and it really helps me play much better with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder.”
“Every little thing that you do, even if it’s not out of control—you… pic.twitter.com/mIkAgkoO0r
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) September 14, 2023
Ben’s reaction closely resembled that of Coco Gauff, when it comes to fan criticism. He said, “I’m not gonna lie, I check social media from time to time. I can use that for fuel, it really helps me play much better..” He further added that upcoming players like him were subjected to intense assessment, “Everything we do is analyzed and criticized. For ex., when I celebrate a point loudly, people say I’m excessive and out of control.”
These days he feels that people closely watch every move of a tennis player. They’re constantly in the spotlight, and it’s a pressure that every tennis player seems to be carrying. However, It’s his friendship and support from fellow players on the tour, like Coco Gauff, that has helped him ease some of this pressure.
Ben Shelton faced high expectations after Australian Open this year
Ben Shelton had a fantastic run at the Australian Open earlier this year, where he reached the quarter-finals but lost to fellow American, Tommy Paul. Darren Cahill, a former tennis player and now a coach, recently discussed Shelton’s performance on the Advantage Connors Podcast.