Ben Shelton has gone from one of the loudest talking points at the US Open to one of the tournament’s biggest remaining threats. The 23-year-old American is into the quarterfinals, where he faces defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, but his booming game is not the only thing getting attention in New York.
During his third-round win over Denis Shapovalov, Shelton’s trademark grunts became the center of an awkward exchange when the Canadian complained to the chair umpire about their inconsistency. The Arthur Ashe crowd loudly backed Shelton, adding another layer to an already heated moment.
Now, with Shelton chasing his biggest Grand Slam breakthrough, the debate over his on-court personality is following him into the sport’s biggest spotlight. His celebrations, his volume, and his willingness to wear his emotions openly have made him impossible to ignore.
A rising American star at Flushing Meadows
Ben Shelton has become one of the leading American players in men’s tennis. The 23-year-old Atlanta native entered the 2026 US Open as the No. 8 seed with genuine title hopes.
Shelton has now advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas. His father, Bryan Shelton, a former professional player and longtime college coach, coaches him on tour.
Shelton starred at the University of Florida before turning professional. His powerful left-handed serve and aggressive style have helped establish him as one of the sport’s most prominent young American players.
The grunting feud that shook Arthur Ashe
During his third-round match against Denis Shapovalov, Shelton’s loud grunting became the center of attention. The Canadian felt the sounds changed with every shot and were meant to throw him off balance.
Shapovalov walked over to the chair umpire and voiced his frustration in the middle of the fourth set. He argued that the grunts were inconsistent, growing louder at times on important points and staying silent elsewhere.
The umpire listened but declined to take any action against Shelton. Play resumed later on, and Shelton went on to win the tense match in four hard-fought sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium that night.
Tennis fans are split right down the middle
The reaction online split almost instantly into two camps. Some viewers agreed that the grunting felt performative and distracting, openly siding with Shapovalov’s complaint even though the umpire had already dismissed it entirely just minutes earlier.
Others defended Shelton, saying loud exhales are simply part of modern power tennis. They pointed out that many top players, men and women alike, grunt heavily during long or physical rallies in matches.
A smaller group admitted they found the noise grating regardless of intent. For them, it was less about gamesmanship and more about pure volume disrupting their enjoyment of the whole broadcast on live television nightly.
Loud celebrations that rub some fans the wrong way
Grunting is not Shelton’s only source of attention this season. After defeating Joao Fonseca in Montreal in August, Shelton celebrated with his familiar finger-to-the-ear gesture, encouraging the crowd to make more noise.
The gesture drew discussion among tennis fans, with some viewing it as energetic showmanship and others finding it excessive. Shelton has used the celebration after other important victories as well.
In December 2025, Shelton launched his official YouTube channel with a behind-the-scenes docuseries called The Long Game, offering footage from his life on and off the ATP Tour.
Little-known fact: In December 2025, Shelton quietly launched his own YouTube channel showing unfiltered footage from tour life without any editing.
A doubles incident still haunts his reputation
Away from the Grand Slams, Shelton faced criticism after a men’s doubles match at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters. Playing alongside Rohan Bopanna, Shelton accidentally struck opponent Andrea Vavassori with a ball near the net.
Vavassori later withdrew from the Barcelona Open because of a rib injury he said occurred during the Monte-Carlo match. He said medical examinations showed a small fracture.
Shelton apologized immediately after hitting Vavassori, but the two later exchanged words at the net. Vavassori criticized Shelton’s comments after the match, while Shelton responded with remarks that drew further attention.
Calling out reporters after a big win
Shelton has also clashed with people off the court, not just his opponents. At the Australian Open, he criticized broadcasters for how they treated players during tense post-match interviews on camera throughout the tournament.
He spoke out after Novak Djokovic refused an on-court interview, saying commentary had grown mean-spirited lately. Shelton argued that some interviewers crossed a line that hurt players instead of celebrating their effort on court.
That moment showed a different side of Shelton, one willing to defend rivals publicly and openly. Fans who normally criticize him praised this stance, showing his reputation is far from one dimensional than many assume.
What the controversy means for his future
The debate around Shelton will likely not disappear anytime soon. Every deep tournament run brings fresh grunts, celebrations, and quotes for fans to endlessly dissect and argue about online across every single platform.
Whether people love or hate his style, Shelton keeps drawing plenty of eyeballs to men’s tennis. That alone makes him one of the sport’s most important and polarizing young stars at every event right now.
His results will ultimately decide how history remembers this whole chapter. A deep run or a title could quiet critics, while another early exit may only fuel the ongoing debate for months to come.
TL;DR
- Ben Shelton, the No. 8 seed, has reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open.
- Denis Shapovalov complained to the chair umpire about Shelton’s grunting during their third-round match, but Shelton was not penalized.
- Shelton’s grunting and animated celebrations have generated mixed reactions among tennis fans.
- His finger-to-the-ear celebration after beating Joao Fonseca in Montreal also drew attention.
- A 2025 men’s doubles incident involving Andrea Vavassori was followed by Vavassori’s withdrawal from the Barcelona Open with a rib injury.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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