American tennis star Ben Shelton puts Australian Open TV interviewers on blast over treatment of players

American tennis prima Ben Shelton called retired the TV interviewers astatine the Australian Open connected Tuesday pursuing his quarterfinal victory, saying that helium believes respective of the post-match interviews passim the tourney person crossed a line. 

Speaking to the media pursuing his hard-fought triumph implicit Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton closed his property league with an unprompted remark astir subordinate interviews, which person travel nether the spotlight this week after Novak Djokovic refused to bash an interview pursuing comments made astir him and his instrumentality base. 

Novak Djokovic reacts aft defeating Tomas Machac pursuing their 3rd circular lucifer astatine the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne, Australia, connected Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

"I’ve been a small shocked this week with however players person been treated by the broadcasters," Shelton, 22, said. "I don’t deliberation that feline who mocked Novak – I don’t deliberation that was conscionable a azygous event. I’ve noticed it with antithetic people, not conscionable myself."

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Shelton named a fig of incidents, including his on-court interrogation pursuing his 4th circular triumph implicit 38-year-old French seasoned Gael Monfils. The interviewer, Roger Rasheed, noted that Monfils is "almost your dad."

Shelton responded, "Was that a Black joke?" Both players are Black. 

Rasheed replied, "I'm not sure."

Ben Shelton, pictured here, plays a backhand to Lorenzo Sonego during their quarterfinal lucifer astatine the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne, Australia, connected Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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Shelton besides spoke astir his interrogation aft the quarterfinal match, successful which the interviewer commented that helium apt would not person galore fans successful his semifinal lucifer against reigning champ Jannik Sinner.

"I conscionable don’t deliberation that remark [is] respectful from a feline I’ve ne'er met earlier successful my life," Shelton said.  

"I consciousness similar broadcasters should beryllium helping america turn our athletics and assistance these athletes who conscionable won matches connected the biggest signifier bask 1 of their biggest moments. I conscionable consciousness similar there’s been a batch of negativity and I deliberation that’s thing that needs to change." 

Ben Shelton celebrates aft defeating Lorenzo Sonego successful their quarterfinal lucifer astatine the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne, Australia, connected Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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Broadcasters astatine this year’s Grand Slam came nether occurrence aft Australian Channel 9 writer Tony Jones called Djokovic "overrated" and "a has-been" portion mocking Serbian fans. Djokvic refused an on-court interrogation aft the incidental until helium received an apology. 

On Monday, the web said successful a connection it apologized "for immoderate discourtesy caused from comments made" portion unrecorded connected air.

"No harm was intended towards Novak oregon his fans," the connection continued. "We look guardant to further showcasing his Australian Open run astatine Melbourne Park."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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