“He did it because he knew the ball was in”- Ben Shelton’s request to chair umpire to allow Sebastian Korda’s ‘incorrect’ challenge in Shanghai has fans doubting his intentions 

In the electrifying world of tennis, players have the urge to win every match in order to get to the top. With the quality of shots increasing there is more work for the chair umpire to check if the ball landed out or in. They also have to make proper line calls. The use of technology to challenge these calls has also played a huge role, offering the players a chance to question the umpire. 

American rising star, Ben Shelton showcased his sportsmanship by letting his opponent Sebastian Korda use a review during the match. The two Americans battled it out in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Open. Both the players gave it their all to give the viewers an entertaining match. In the first set of the game, Sheldon was seen asking the umpire to let Korda use a review.

While some fans and tennis enthusiasts see this as a sign of sportsmanship, others doubt the youngster’s intentions. Fans are unhappy as they think that Sheldon appealed to the umpire knowing that the ball went out and letting his opponent lose a review on purpose. “He did it because he knew the ball was in,” posted a fan on X. Here are some more responses from the fans:

Related: Ben Shelton has a new fan in Greg Rusedski who praises the ‘old school power tennis’ of the American 

Ben Shelton loses to Sebastian Korda in an intense quarter-final showdown

The Shanghai Open is almost coming to an end as its quarter-final stages are underway. Ben Shelton, the 21-year-old American was up against his fellow teammate Sebastian Korda. The two played their best tennis in the match, with Ben Shelton winning the first set by a close margin. However, Korda did not stay put for a long time as he came back to win the second set. 

The third set had the audience on the edge of their seats, as neither one was ready to give up without a fight and they battled it without a break. Sebastian won the tiebreak and the match as well to secure his seat in the semi-finals. The final score was 6-7(12), 6-2, 7-6(6). Sebastian Korda now will face Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals of the tournament to try and secure a place in the finals. 

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