Ben Shelton was relieved when he advanced to the third round of the 2026 US Open. The American overcame a challenging test against former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz, prompting an emotional and animated celebration at the conclusion of the match.
Shelton’s animated reaction soon became a talking point online, drawing ridicule from some fans. However, Coco Gauff’s father, Corey, had little patience for the criticism directed at the compatriot.
Ben Shelton Issues Explanation on US Open Celebration, Receives Coco Gauff’s Father’s Backing
Eighth seed Shelton kicked off his New York campaign with a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 win over tricky opponent Tallon Griekspoor. The American then faced another formidable challenge in his second-round clash on Wednesday, September 2, taking on unseeded former World No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz, whose season had been hampered by inconsistent results and injuries.
Shelton seized the initiative early, breaking Hurkacz on his way to taking the first set. But the Pole answered with a break of his own in the second to restore parity. What followed was a tense battle between two powerful servers, with neither player willing to surrender an inch. Shelton eventually held his nerve to prevail 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 after three hours and 24 minutes, winning their first-ever meeting on the Tour.
The exuberant celebration that followed appeared to indicate just how difficult the challenge from Hurkacz had been. Still, some fans were far from impressed by his reaction. One online user wrote on Instagram, “Calm down, dude… this guy is way over the top with his reactions.”
Corey Gauff, the father of 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, pulled no punches as he hit back at Shelton’s critics. “Shut up,” he wrote in response. Corey has frequently spoken out against online trolls who attempt to undermine tennis players and their achievements.
Meanwhile, when questioned about his celebration during the press conference, Shelton explained that his reaction was largely in response to Hurkacz’s spirited comeback. “I was never down in terms of set score, but the momentum definitely shifted. He hit another gear. When I was up a set and a break and the match was fully in my control to, you know, up in the air.”
“The second half of the match, the level that he was playing… to be able to get out of that one in four sets, I closed out the way I did, and I thought that I found so many things in terms of game style that I want to be playing towards the end of that match. So, that was a big one for me. I think that’s why the emotions came out at the end,” the 23-year-old added.
“I was super excited to get through that one and relieved, obviously, because I thought he was serving lights out, moving well, not making errors from the baseline, and it was a tall task today.”
Shelton’s path through the draw shows no signs of getting easier. The American next takes on fellow left-hander and former World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov on Friday. Shelton holds a 4-0 advantage in their rivalry, but their previous meetings have been fiercely contested and decided by narrow margins.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
