Novak Djokovic Mimics Ben Shelton 'Phone' Celebration After US Open Semi-Final Match Win
- 7 months ago
The veteran Djokovic held off a late-match surge from the 20-year-old to reach his 10th U.S. Open final before he mimed answering the phone - and hanging up - to subvert the viral post-win gesture that Shelton has used in New York. "I just love Ben's celebration," Djokovic told reporters with a grin.
The No. 2 seed in the Flushing Grand Slam not only defeated the 20-year-old American in three straight sets 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals, but Djokovic even mocked Shelton with his clinching celebration.
During his wins at the U.S. Open, Shelton has pretended to answer a phone call with his hand before slamming it down as if he’d hung up on a call.
Shelton most notably did it after his stunning four-set win over No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals earlier in the week.
Well, after Djokovic topped Shelton in a third-set tiebreak on Friday afternoon, he started walking to the net and pulled off the same gesture, literally and figuratively ending Shelton’s miraculous tournament run.
“Djokovic … mocking Shelton’s celebration from the other day — hanging up the phone,” ESPN play-by-play man Chris Fowler said during the semifinal broadcast.
Even with the mock celebration, the two shook hands at the net after the match.
After the match, Djokovic told reporters about why he used the phone celebration.
“I just love Ben’s celebration,” he said. “I thought he was very original and I copied him. I stole his celebration.
Shelton, for his part, said he did not mind Djokovic’s theatrics.
“I don’t like when I’m on social media, and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can’t celebrate,” Shelton said after the semis. “If you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want.
“As a kid, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Djokovic will now play in his 10th U.S. Open final, tying a record, against either Carlos Alcarez or Daniil Medvedev.
“Look these are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on that still get me going and inspire me to wake up every morning working as hard as the young guys,” Djokovic told ESPN after the win. “Grand Slams are the occasions that motivate me the most to play my best tennis.
The No. 2 seed in the Flushing Grand Slam not only defeated the 20-year-old American in three straight sets 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals, but Djokovic even mocked Shelton with his clinching celebration.
During his wins at the U.S. Open, Shelton has pretended to answer a phone call with his hand before slamming it down as if he’d hung up on a call.
Shelton most notably did it after his stunning four-set win over No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals earlier in the week.
Well, after Djokovic topped Shelton in a third-set tiebreak on Friday afternoon, he started walking to the net and pulled off the same gesture, literally and figuratively ending Shelton’s miraculous tournament run.
“Djokovic … mocking Shelton’s celebration from the other day — hanging up the phone,” ESPN play-by-play man Chris Fowler said during the semifinal broadcast.
Even with the mock celebration, the two shook hands at the net after the match.
After the match, Djokovic told reporters about why he used the phone celebration.
“I just love Ben’s celebration,” he said. “I thought he was very original and I copied him. I stole his celebration.
Shelton, for his part, said he did not mind Djokovic’s theatrics.
“I don’t like when I’m on social media, and I see people telling me how I can celebrate or can’t celebrate,” Shelton said after the semis. “If you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want.
“As a kid, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Djokovic will now play in his 10th U.S. Open final, tying a record, against either Carlos Alcarez or Daniil Medvedev.
“Look these are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on that still get me going and inspire me to wake up every morning working as hard as the young guys,” Djokovic told ESPN after the win. “Grand Slams are the occasions that motivate me the most to play my best tennis.