The cheers and applause felt distant, the victory slipping through his fingers. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions for Ben Shelton at Wimbledon. Just days after equaling his father’s remarkable feat of reaching the fourth round at the All-England Club, the American star is now out of the tournament. The highs of accomplishment were quickly followed by the lows of defeat, turning Shelton’s journey into a whirlwind of feelings. In these trying times, what Shelton needed most was support. And that’s exactly what he got from his compatriot Danielle Collins.
The in-form American tennis sensation received a huge setback on Sunday. Known for his impressive comeback, as was evidenced in all the three matches Shelton played in Wimbledon, many would have expected him to bounce back. But, it was the Italian dynamo Jannik Sinner who carried forward his campaign in style to whisk out Shelton in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(9). However, this defeat did not seem to deflect the determination of the 21-year-old and his dream of winning a grand slam title, who is eyeing a stronger comeback to the venue, next year.
Taking to his Instagram, Ben Shelton shared a picture of himself from the tournament and expressed his zeal to fight back fiercely. “Keep digging ⛏️ I’ll be back @wimbledon,” captioned the tennis star. He received immense support for his determination with one of the firsts to cheer him up was his WTA compatriot, Danielle Collins.
Danielle Collins is known not just for her aggression but also for her soft-hearted gestures. She has once again portrayed the same by her comment on Ben Shelton’s post. Responding to Shelton’s post, ‘Danimal’ commented, “You’ll be back better than ever 💙 🧡” This statement would definitely act as a cheering spirit for the budding star who is aspiring to achieve big in his young days. Meanwhile, this is not the first time when Collins extended her support to a dejected player like Shelton.
‘F it…’ When Danielle Collins came in support of her fellow player Beatriz Haddad Maia
Tennis, unlike any other sport, is full of emotions. It has witnessed players breaking down and experiencing some of the most difficult times. Similar were the scenes on Saturday when Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia lost in the third round to Danielle Collins.
After the match, Maia shook hands with Collins. What initially seemed like a calm demeanor soon turned heated as the Brazilian smashed her racquet against her kit bag. While many called her out for the gesture, Collins was quick to speak in her favor. Chatting at the post-match interview, the 30-year-old said, “We get framed as emotional and frustrated and this and that. I just say ‘F it.’ I’m going for it. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m always gonna bring the passion.”
The WTA star is all set to face Barbora Krejčíková in the fourth round of the tournament on Monday. Can she continue her winning momentum? Only time will tell.