MELBOURNE, Australia — Ben Shelton Criticizes Broadcasters and Interviewers at Australian Open
Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American tennis player, who recently made it to the semifinals of the Australian Open after defeating Lorenzo Sonego, expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct of broadcasters and on-court interviewers during a post-match news conference.
In his statement, Shelton pointed out Tony Jones, a Channel 9 sportscaster, for his controversial remarks towards Serbian fans and Novak Djokovic. Jones had made derogatory comments about Djokovic and even suggested he be kicked out of the country on air, referencing Djokovic’s past deportation over Covid-19 protocols. Jones later apologized for his remarks after Djokovic deemed them insulting and offensive.
Shelton also highlighted another incident involving American tennis player Learner Tien, where the on-court interview seemed to belittle the young player after his victory over Daniil Medvedev. Shelton described the interview as embarrassing and disrespectful towards Tien.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Shelton shared an instance where an interviewer made a comment about Gael Monfils potentially being his father due to their shared race. While Shelton acknowledged that there may have been no ill intent behind the comment, he expressed discomfort over the remark.
Furthermore, Shelton criticized the overall tone of the interviews and broadcasts, stating that they should focus on promoting the sport of tennis and celebrating the achievements of the athletes. He emphasized the need for a more positive and respectful approach from broadcasters and interviewers.
Tennis Australia has yet to respond to Shelton’s remarks, but his comments have sparked a conversation about the treatment of players in the media spotlight.
(Nick Denholm / Getty Images)
