Novak Djokovic Faces Criticism for Mimicking Ben Shelton’s Celebration From Shelton’s Father
At the US Open semifinals, Novak Djokovic not only beat Ben Shelton but also sparked controversy with his post-match antics, prompting criticism from Shelton’s father.
During the game, Djokovic copied Shelton’s signature “dialed in” celebration and pretended to hang up an imaginary phone, making it a national TV moment.
Shelton, despite having his celebration parodied, handled it with grace, stating, “I don’t like when I’m on social media and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can’t celebrate. If you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want. As a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, that’s all I have to say about that.”
However, things took a turn when Bryan Shelton, Ben’s father, expressed his disappointment with Djokovic’s actions. In an interview with GQ, he said, “He wants to be loved so much, Novak. He wanted to mock Ben at the end. It wasn’t something he was doing just to copy Ben. It was to mock him. And that’s too bad, for that to come from such a great champion.”
Ben Shelton’s dad on Novak Djokovic copying Ben’s phone celebration:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 15, 2023
“He wants to be loved so much, Novak…He wanted to mock Ben at the end. It wasn't something he was doing just to copy Ben. It was to mock him. & that's too bad, for that to come from such a great champion.”… pic.twitter.com/Lan7dLVXPi
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has yet to respond to these allegations.
One thing’s for sure: a potential rematch between Djokovic and Shelton would be a must-watch event, with this rivalry extending beyond the tennis court. Tennis fans eagerly await Djokovic’s response to this controversy.
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