"Feel like I know my identity on the court" - Ben Shelton credits his father Bryan & coaching team's 'honesty' for newfound confidence at US Open 2024

Ben Shelton recently credited his father Bryan and the coaching team's honest feedback for boosting his confidence at the 2024 US Open. Shelton started his US Open campaign strongly with a straight-sets triumph over Dominic Thiem.

The 21-year-old dominated from the outset winning the first set 6-4. He continued his momentum in the second set 6-2 and replicated the same score in the third to eliminate the Austrian in an hour and 52 minutes.

In his press conference following a decisive first-round victory, Shelton said that he derives confidence from the honest feedback of his coaching team. His father, Bryan is his professional coach and a part of the team.

"Yeah, for me it's a combination. My team is very honest. They don't sugarcoat things with me," Ben Shelton said. "So, I know that if my dad tells me I have something locked in, I'm pretty locked in on it. If my strength coach tells me that I'm moving well and I look really good moving out of the corners, then I'm probably moving really well out of the corners."

Ben Shelton further reflected on his US Open preparation, noting improvement since the Citi Open in Washington, and said:

"From Washington, D.C. to now I feel like everything has gotten a little bit better each day. I thought I played well in Cincinnati, and I thought that out here today I was playing even better. I feel pretty fine-tuned with the little things on the court right now, and I've gotten a lot of match play, which coming into this tournament last year, I had little to no confidence, hardly any match wins."

"So, it feels a little different being here this year. I just feel a little more at peace with my game, and I feel like I know my identity out there on the court," he added.

As he heads to the second round at Flushing Meadows, Shelton is looking to become the first American to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.

---

Ben Shelton extended a touching gesture towards Dominic Thiem at his US Open swansong

Ben Shelton at Cincinnati Open 2024 - Day 7 - Source: Getty

Dominic Thiem announced earlier this year that 2024 will be his final season on tour and that he will retire after the Erste Bank Open in October. Thus, he was playing his last Grand Slam at the US Open.

After defeating the Austrian in the first round, Ben Shelton embraced him at the net and encouraged the crowd to cheer for Thiem.

Shelton is set to face Roberto Bautista Agut in his second-round match, marking their second encounter on tour. Shelton defeated the Spaniard 6-2, 6-7(2), 7-5 in their previous match at the 2024 Australian Open in January.