“Worst eyes on the Tour,” Ben Shelton gets involved with the chair umpire over missed challenges during the Shanghai Masters 2023

Ben Shelton beat Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the 2023 Shanghai Masters.

“Worst eyes on the Tour,” Ben Shelton gets involved with the chair umpire over missed challenges during the Shanghai Masters 2023

Ben Shelton (L), John Blom (R) (Source: Prime Video)

American tennis sensation Ben Shelton had a hilarious chat with chair break John Blom during his match against Jaume Munar in the second round of the 2023 Shanghai Masters. Shelton won a break point by calling a correct challenge and that was what he was discussing with the chair official during the break. The 20-year-old jokingly told him that he had the ‘worst eyes on the tour’. 

Talking about the match between Shelton and Jaume Munar, Shelton won the first set pretty easily. In the second set, Munar was holding break point at 3-3 when he made a second serve that Shelton thought was long. He challenged it correctly and won the game. Shelton was then seen chatting with the chair official while coming to the bench for a changeover. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3kDQ_PFfLc

“You thought it was in?” Shelton asked, to which Blom replied that he didn’t think it was in but thought it was really close. The chair umpire might not have had a good view of the shot in concern, but he had a good enough view of a previous shot that, if challenged by Shelton, would’ve gone against him. “Good you didn’t waste it [a challenge] on that one there,” he told Shelton, who agreed that it was one of the most ‘flush shots ever’. 

FS Video

Ben Shelton revealed to John Blom that this was his first full year on the tennis tour and thus, he has not been accustomed with the challenge system properly. “None of the tournaments since I’ve turned pro have been challenge, it’s all automatic now. So I’ve played three or four with challenge. I have no clue what I’m doing. I have the worst eyes on tour,” he said. Blom replied, “There’s some pretty bad ones, don’t worry.”

Ben Shelton set to face Roman Safiullin in the third round

After beating Jaume Munar in the second round of the 2023 Shanghai Masters, Ben Shelton will now face Roman Safiullin in the third round of the tournament. Safiullin comes to the third round by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets, which is a massive achievement in itself. Thus, the American youngster better not take Safiullin lightly. Unlike Safiullin, Ben had qualified for the second round off-bye.

Ben Shelton (L), Roman Safiullin (R)
Ben Shelton (L), Roman Safiullin (R) (Sources: Forbes, Tennis Majors)

Ben Shelton also has to play in the men’s doubles event at the 2023 Shanghai Masters. He will take on the team of Rinky Hijikata and Cameron Norrie in the Round-of-32 alongside his partner Hubert Hurcakz. The team of Shelton and Hurcakz is really good and they really have a great shot at the men’s doubles title in the 2023 Shanghai Masters. 

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