Ben Shelton of the United States reacts after winning a point against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during their third round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
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If there’s one thing Wimbledon doesn’t typically serve alongside strawberries and cream, it’s political hot takes. But enter Ben Shelton—a 21-year-old rising American tennis star with a booming serve, a flashy lefty forehand, and, apparently, a little something to say. Shelton has been gaining traction at Wimbledon this year not just for his on-court skill (although that’s been plenty impressive), but also for veiled political remarks in post-match interviews and social media interactions. The tennis world, usually a bastion of polite grunts and vague gratitude to “the fans back home,” is now toeing the line between sportsmanship and statesmanship.
Let’s rewind: Shelton recently made headlines for comments about “earning your place” and “not apologizing for winning,” which—depending on who you ask—were either simple locker-room confidence or subtle jabs at hot-button cultural issues. The internet, naturally, turned it into a political Rorschach test. Was he taking a stance on meritocracy in modern America? Was it a dig at participation-trophy culture? Or was he just flexing after a solid win?
On the right, commentators and fans saw Shelton as a rare athlete “who doesn’t cave to the woke mob,” praising him for not pandering and for “speaking truth”—even if the truth is wearing a sweatband and sipping electrolyte mix.
On the left, others raised eyebrows. Was he throwing shade at progressive ideals like equity in sports and society? Was this another instance of an athlete politicizing his platform under the guise of “just being real”? One viral post read: “Cool serve, bro, but keep the TED Talk for after you hit your backhand.”
Shelton himself hasn’t directly confirmed or denied the political nature of his comments—classic “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” energy. But that hasn’t stopped the discourse. And maybe that’s the point. Athletes using their platform for political or social commentary is nothing new. From Muhammad Ali’s draft resistance to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee, to Megan Rapinoe’s outspokenness on gender equity, sports have long been a stage for protest and perspective. For some fans, that’s inspiring—proof that athletes are more than entertainers. For others, it’s a frustrating blend of balls and ballots, where the scoreboard is no longer the only thing that counts.
Shelton, for his part, isn’t marching or wearing slogans—at least not yet. He represents a more subtle shift: the athlete who might be making a political statement but keeps just enough ambiguity to avoid total commitment. It’s a kind of Schrödinger’s stance: he’s both political and apolitical until someone opens Twitter. But here’s the truth: like it or not, athletes are public figures. With millions of followers and major media coverage, what they say—or don’t say—can influence perception, policy, and public mood. And in an era where even your uncle’s Facebook post gets scrutinized, a young star at Wimbledon isn’t going to escape that spotlight. Maybe Shelton didn’t ask to be in this conversation. Maybe he’s just a 21-year-old with strong opinions and stronger groundstrokes. Or maybe he understands exactly what he’s doing. After all, in the world of professional sports, playing the narrative is just as important as playing the point.
As he gears up for his next match, fans are split between cheering his forehand and decoding his phrasing. But whether you think he’s a future U.S. Open champ or a walking PragerU ad, one thing’s clear: Ben Shelton isn’t just playing the game. He’s becoming part of a much bigger one.
And in today’s world, that might be the biggest serve of all.
Author Profile
- Tessa Winkleman is a dynamic scholar-athlete and aspiring sports law professional. Raised in Las Vegas before heading to Michigan (Go Blue!), she earned a Division I volleyball scholarship to St. Francis College in Brooklyn. After transferring to Hunter College, she led her team as MVP, earning numerous athletic and academic honors. Tessa has interned at McShane & Bowie LLP and the PREA Investigation Unit at Rikers Island, combining her passions for justice and advocacy. She is set to pursue a master’s degree in Sports Law and Management at the Universidad Europea de Madrid, in partnership with Real Madrid FC.
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