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Laments of a lefty: Why Shelton can't find practice partners

American defeated Carreno Busta in four sets on Thursday in Melbourne
January 16, 2025
Ben Shelton in action during his second-round Australian Open win on Thursday at Melbourne Park.
Peter Staples para ATP Tour
Ben Shelton in action during his second-round Australian Open win on Thursday at Melbourne Park. By Andy West

Different game styles can be a key deciding factor in top-level tennis, and not just once a match is underway. Just ask Ben Shelton.

The American was asked on Thursday about the advantages and disadvantages of competing as a lefty in his sport. Shelton did not need long to find a response.

“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,” said Shelton, referencing some his fellow lefties on the ATP Tour. “Then I get the look. Other than that, people don't want to practise with you as much.

“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.”

It All Adds Up

Any potential struggle for practice partners certainly did not impact Shelton on Thursday afternoon at Melbourne Park, where he downed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 in the second round. Indeed, the American does not necessarily view a lack of time hitting with his ATP Tour rivals as all negative.

“I'd say at the same time, people don't want to hit with lefties, so they don't see your style of game as much,” revealed the No. 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I go out and play against somebody that said no to practising with me the last four times, at least he hasn't seen my serve. Pros and cons, for sure.”

Shelton has now reached at least the third round on all three of his appearances at the Australian Open. A quarter-finalist on event debut in 2023, the 22-year-old will meet Lorenzo Musetti next after the Italian overcame another lefty, Shapovalov, 7-6(3), 7-6(6), 6-2.

Musetti holds a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead against Shelton after victories at Queen’s Club in 2023 and last year in Miami, respectively, but Shelton will not be concerned with the past ahead of the third-round clash.

“Honestly, win or lose, I'm trying to learn something from the last match I played,” said the American, when asked whether head-to-head records bother him. “If you won the match before, you know that the guy's going to try to do something different to flip the script. Obviously if you lost the match, you're the guy who's got to change something up.

“I don't really mind either way. Obviously you want to look at things that worked when you played, look at things that didn't work that you want to change. I think also for me, being in a Grand Slam is a different game. I can't as much compare playing guys in two-out-of-three sets than three-out-of-five. It's a different beast. It's where I play my best tennis. That's not something that I look at as much.”

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