"He thinks he can beat me" - Ben Shelton issues bold challenge to his father-coach Bryan at Australian Open

American ATP star Ben Shelton recently turned honest about stepping on the courts with his father. On being asked about the on-court interactions with his dad-cum-coach, the 22-year-old revealed how despite his widely known tennis background, the moments of hitting alongside his dad are quite rare.

A former pro himself, Bryan Shelton had been operating as the coach of Florida Gators since 2012 before stepping down in 2023 to take over as Ben's head coach. His past endeavors also include being the national coach of the United States Tennis Association. Bryan also mentored the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's team back in 1999.

In an on-court interview following the hard-fought win over Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, Ben Shelton made an honest admission about barely receiving a chance to play alongside his father. In a bold move, he also issued a bold challenge to his dad, saying he was ready to face him in a match and see if he can beat him.

"He's never let me play him. I don't think he ever will let me play, and I don't know if I had to guess it was probably 16 or 17. I wasn't too good as a junior. He always has the mental edge, so. He probably still thinks he can beat me, I mean, we can come out on this court and run it right now," he said.

With this win, Shelton has now secured a position in the last 16 at the Australian Open. Up next, recent ASB Classic champion Gael Monfils awaits him in the fourth round.

Ben Shelton reveals why co-players don't practice with him

2025 Australian Open - Day 7 - Source: Getty

Ben Shelton recently revealed what stops other players on the tour from practicing against him before major events. The 22-year-old cited his left-handed playing style as the main reason behind the denial from peers to step on the courts against him in practice sessions.

"You can't get a practice [partner]. It's impossible, except for when the draw comes out and they play [Jack] Draper, Shapo [Denis Shapovalov], or Ugo Humbert. Then I get the look. Other than that, people don't want to practise with you as much," he said.

Despite the admission, the American ATP star expressed pride and reluctance to make changes in his playing style.

“For me I don't mind. I hit with a righty, lefty, tall guy, short guy, serve bot, grinder. Doesn't really matter. Guys on tour, players or coaches, are particular about who they practise with. Big serve, lefty, that's two strikes against you. Finding hits can be difficult,” he added.

Despite suffering a concerning fall during his third-round showdown, Ben Shelton is now gearing up for the next clash against Gael Monfils. Shelton is a former quarterfinalist in Melbourne, while Monfils has reached the quarterfinals twice before in Australia in the past.