By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 16, 2025
In tennis circles, we at all times hear about “leftiness” and the way southpaws current distinctive issues for his or her opponents on a tennis courtroom. That lefty serve that may drag an opponent into the photographer pit?
All people is aware of about it – and dreads dealing with it.
It’s a definite benefit for a lot of lefties on tour however, as Ben Shelton stated on Friday evening in Melbourne, being a lefty has its drawbacks as properly.
The No.21 seed, who compled a four-set victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to achieve the third spherical, says that the most important downside is that guys simply don’t wish to follow with lefties.
“You’ll be able to’t get a follow,” he stated. “It is not possible, aside from when the draw comes out they usually play Draper, Shapo, or Ugo Humbert. Then I get the look. Aside from that, folks do not wish to follow with you as a lot.”
Shelton, a former quarterfinalist on the Australian Open, has reached no less than the third spherical in every of his three appearances in Melbourne Park. He says he doesn’t care who he practices with. However different ATP gamers will be very choosy.
“For me I do not thoughts. I hit with a righty, lefty, tall man, brief man, serve bot, grinder. Would not actually matter,” he stated. “Guys on tour, gamers or coaches, are explicit about who they follow with. Large serve, lefty, that is two strikes in opposition to you. Discovering hits will be tough.”
However even that works in Shelton’s favor. If gamers don’t wish to follow with him then that leaves the ingredient of shock in play.
“I might say on the similar time folks do not wish to hit with lefties so they do not see your type of recreation as a lot,” Shelton stated. “I am going out and play in opposition to anyone that stated no to training with me the final 4 occasions, no less than he hasn’t seen my serve.”
#Observe #Ben #Shelton