Andy Roddick details why Ben Shelton faces his biggest challenges on clay compared to other surfaces
Andy Roddick has been speaking about Ben Shelton once again, and as always, he’s had plenty of good things to say. But even with all the talent Shelton has, there are still a few issues holding him back from closing the gap on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Andy Roddick has been speaking about Ben Shelton once again, and as always, he’s had plenty of good things to say. But even with all the talent Shelton has, there are still a few issues holding him back from closing the gap on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Roddick seems to have spotted another one – though this time it’s not just about Shelton.
It’s something that’s been an issue for American men more broadly. Shelton isn’t alone in this either. Plenty of players have found it difficult to adjust their game from hard courts to clay over the years.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Andy Roddick weighs in on Ben Shelton’s clay and grass court prospects Roddick opened the latest episode of his Served with Andy Roddick podcast by focusing on the qualities that make Shelton a threat regardless of surface. “I mean, that serve translates anywhere,” he began. “When you could serve 140 and then kick it over someone’s head both ways.
That tends to work. He went on to say: “His ball flight on his forehand naturally has a lot of spin on it. You know, I think as the surfaces have become kind of more mono-surface, I think the entire thing is like, can Ben beat me today with his backhand?