By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 16, 2025
In tennis circles, we at all times hear about “leftiness” and the way southpaws current distinctive issues for his or her opponents on a tennis court docket. That lefty serve that may drag an opponent into the photographer pit?
All people is aware of about it – and dreads dealing with it.
It’s a definite benefit for a lot of lefties on tour however, as Ben Shelton mentioned on Friday evening in Melbourne, being a lefty has its drawbacks as properly.
The No.21 seed, who compled a four-set victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to achieve the third spherical, says that the largest drawback is that guys simply don’t wish to follow with lefties.
“You possibly can’t get a follow,” he mentioned. “It is inconceivable, apart from when the draw comes out they usually play Draper, Shapo, or Ugo Humbert. Then I get the look. Aside from that, individuals do not wish to follow with you as a lot.”
Shelton, a former quarterfinalist on the Australian Open, has reached at the very least the third spherical in every of his three appearances in Melbourne Park. He says he doesn’t care who he practices with. However different ATP gamers might be very choosy.
“For me I do not thoughts. I hit with a righty, lefty, tall man, quick man, serve bot, grinder. Would not actually matter,” he mentioned. “Guys on tour, gamers or coaches, are explicit about who they follow with. Massive serve, lefty, that is two strikes towards you. Discovering hits might be troublesome.”
However even that works in Shelton’s favor. If gamers don’t wish to follow with him then that leaves the ingredient of shock in play.
“I might say on the similar time individuals do not wish to hit with lefties so they do not see your type of recreation as a lot,” Shelton mentioned. “I’m going out and play towards someone that mentioned no to practising with me the final 4 occasions, at the very least he hasn’t seen my serve.”
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