Ben Shelton has enjoyed one of the most rapid rises in tennis history, yet continues to be a lightning rod for criticism.
There is no reasonable explanation for this phenomenon, where he seems to be such an easy target despite being such an affable and energetic youngster.
Alas, with every shock defeat come waves of condemnation, most of which is completely unfounded.
After all, what he has already accomplished at such a young age is sensational, and he is only bound to get better.
This is the message that Eubanks was keen to get across, whilst talking on the Best of Three podcast.
Chris Eubanks explains why Ben Shelton’s rise is so impressive
Eubanks began with a reminder: “I think people forget that Ben was playing college tennis three years ago.
He continued: “His first year on tour, I believe it wasn’t his first year, whatever. He quartered Aussie [Open], semi’d US [Open], and won a 250.
How far does Ben Shelton make it at Roland Garros?
“His next year, he wins a 500, he has a couple, like, I forgot what he did in all the other majors, like fourth round. Like, he’s not really losing anybody that’s not Carlos or Jannik.
“And then last year he comes, semis Australia again. And then the next year comes, he wins a Masters 1000, and he’s still racking up wins.”
The Tennis Channel pundit then explained how Ben Shelton keeps breaking the glass ceiling, adding: “So, like, each year, from three years ago, he’s gotten so much better and he’s hitting so many shots from top 20 to top 10 to top five. Like, he’s hitting these benchmarks that you’re like, he’s only going up. And people are still finding reasons to say, ‘Ah, he just doesn’t have it.’ Or just find a reason I hate.
“I’m just like, I feel like guys have this warped perception of how long it takes for someone to really break through and be at the top of the game.
“Like, I don’t have the numbers in front of me. I think Ben’s ascension has been one of the fastest I’ve ever seen.
“I’m like, Yo, if Ben never plays another tennis match, he has one of the best American tennis careers I’ve ever seen in the record books.”
Finally, asked if Shelton had anything he needed to change to make that jump to compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Eubanks stated: “I don’t know if he’ll ever defend to the level of a Sinner or an Alcaraz just because of his build. He’s 6’4, built like a Mack Truck. I don’t know how consistently he would be able to defend in the corners and slide and things like that.
“I think that’s going to be the one area of his game that I just don’t see getting up to those guys’ level.”
Shelton had been backed to challenge for the Roland Garros title, but that was before the defending Canadian Open champion lost early in Madrid…
Ben Shelton suffers a shock setback after Madrid Open loss
After an early exit in Houston and then winning the title in Munich, it felt like Shelton had got his clay-court season back on track.
As such, big things were expected of him in Madrid, where many backed him to be the best-performing man that America had to offer.
Who do YOU think will win the Madrid Open? 💭
Frustratingly for both him and his supporters, that was not to be the case, with Shelton suffering a shock first-round exit to the unseeded Dino Prizmic.
The Croatian, who has earned praise from Novak Djokovic in the past, overcame the 23-year-old in a dramatic third-set tiebreak.
He will now play Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the next round, whilst Shelton will have to lick his wounds as he heads to Rome to try and once again bounce back.