re: Ben Sheltons rise in Tennis is unique and elite; he is the next big American story

The mainstream media hasn’t done anything on him period yet.

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However, Shelton didn’t even start playing tennis until 13, unheard of for even a college tennis player, much less one that goes pro. He was a hell of a young football player before then

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From what I read, this is inaccurate. I read he started playing at a very young age, but was a dual sport athlete with football being high interest, but his interest in playing solely competitive tennis didn’t start until age 12.

That’s very different from picking up a racket at 13 and then becoming a USTA national champion at 17 and then NCAA singles champ at 19. The OP, for allegedly knowing the Sheltons, embellished the story to make it more of a “more unheard of story” than what it really was/is.

Also, I understand most pros on tour grow up at tennis academies. However, his dad was a USTA National Coach when he was a child. His dad was then GT Coach and then UF Coach. So, I’m sure he had elite training at a very young age.

Also, the article I read said his mother was a star junior tennis player and his sister is a star college tennks player.

I think Seb Korda’s story is more interesting considering he’s probably the guy in this American generation that has the best chance of winning a slam, but is also the worst athlete in his family.

Actually, Ben Shelton was ranked 122 in the state of Florida for Boys 14s

LINK

But yeh, not that big of a deal

I think it’s definitely an absurd rise, but obviously having a father at that level helps if you’re not going to play competitive tennis at an early age (which is absurdly rare in tennis).

Having a 140mph left handed serve also helps

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No it's not at 13 years old.

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Can you rattle off a few names of current pros in men's tennis who fit this bill?

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es he had picked up a racket before.

His first year playing full time he was ranked 80 in Florida at 13 to give you perspective

So to go from 80th in the state of Florida to top 50 in the world in 7 years is unprecedented.

At 13, the normal player who will break top 50 in the world would be roughly too 20 in the world junior rankings for his age

Clearly his raw talent and genes are a huge part of how there even possible

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Again, your OP said he started at 13. That's factually incorrect. Every article I have read, and there's a lot now, says he started at a very young age. Every article mentions football being his first passion, but that he decided to dedicate himself full time to tennis at age 12. That, again, is very different from starting to play at 13.

The fact that he started 80 in Florida in 14s is irrelevant to me. Again, his dad was a USTA National coach. Then national championshp coach at GT, then UF. I have no doubt tha his son was in and around the National Training facilities and the GT and UF tennis facilities growing up, and hitting with elite talent all the time. Maybe his dad didn't feel it was necessary for his son to go "point chasing" on the USTA junior circuit, and, for that reason, his rankings were low to start with. Maybe they couldn't do the tournament every weekend with his dad having to travel like he did for his work. Maybe his dad felt like he had a better path for "junior development." Maybe his dad also felt like it wasn't going to be necssary for him to do the 12's/14's circuit, where there ends up being a lot of burn out down the road, since he was oing to have connections to college coaches down the road regardless because of his dad.

I see he won USTA Level 1 events in 16's and 18's. That doesn't happen with someone who "just starts playing a 13" and it didn't in this case.

All that said, the kid is pretty good and looks like he has a great future. Wish he would tone down the junior "fist pumping" in the direction of the opponent and child like screaming/flexing.

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Im not trying to be a dickhead because I know you are a tennis fan, but you are clueless here

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I know who you are, what your tennis accomplishments were at CHS, Memphis, and then LSU.

I played juniors, competitively, just like you and had very similar results and rankings as you did - just a tad bit lower, but not by much. I had the opportunity to play at smaller D1 schools, but I passed as I was burned out from all the southern.tournaments from 12s-16s and had full ride academically to the college of my choice. My two main junior coaches both ended up leaving my hometown to be the head coach at D 1 programs - one SEC and one ACC (top 10 program). Bottom line - I am very familiar with junior and college tennis. I’m sure there are others on this thread who played competitively, as you and I did, but for some reason, you always seem to act like the absolutely and only “know it all” when it comes to all things tennis.

Honestly, I didn’t go look at his boys 12/14 results and really don’t care too. Sure, to go from losing L5 and 6s to winning a L1 in a year or two is impressive. But all of that happened in one - two years. That tells me he had an incredible foundation when he decided to dedicate himself full time at the age of 12s AND the training opportunity that almost no one else in that position has. That’s how he was able to do what he did. That’s why this usually doesn’t happen.

As far as him playing 4 at Florida, to going top 50 in 2 years, yes, that’s impressive. But if I remember, when he came in, that roster was loaded with highly rated recruits returning from prior years and his dad was the coach. Maybe he was a tad lower in the lineup than he should have been. Regardless, he was a top 10 national player going into college, signed with one of the top programs in the college and was a national college champion.

All that said, where he is today, based on his last 3-4 years of results is not absolute shocking. The “story” to me is the leap and improvement he made from 14s to 16s.

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