Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 16, 2025
In tennis circles, we regularly hear about “lefties” and the way southpaws current distinctive issues to their opponents on the tennis courtroom. That left serve that may draw an opponent into the cameraman’s gap?
Everybody is aware of about it – and is afraid to face it.
It is a distinct benefit for a lot of vacationers however, like Ben Shelton he stated on Friday night time in Melbourne, being left-handed has its issues too.
This participant who performs at quantity 21, who completed profitable 4 units in opposition to Pablo Carreno Busta from Spain to achieve the third spherical, says that the largest drawback is that the boys don’t wish to observe with lefties.
“You may’t get used to it,” she stated. “It is not possible, except there’s a draw and so they play with Draper, Shapo, or Ugo Humbert. Then I get a glance. Apart from, folks do not wish to prepare with you that a lot.”
Shelton, a former quarterfinalist on the Australian Open, has reached at the least the third spherical in every of his three appearances at Melbourne Park. He says he does not care who he trains with. However some ATP gamers might be extra selective.
“For me, I’ve no drawback. I hit straight man, left, lengthy, quick, feed bot, grinder. It does not actually matter,” he stated. “Guys on tour, gamers or coaches are particular about who they prepare with. Massive serve, left, that is two strikes in opposition to you. Discovering hits might be troublesome.”
However that works for Shelton. If the gamers do not wish to observe with him that leaves a component of shock within the sport.
“I might say on the similar time folks do not wish to hit lefties so they do not see your model of play,” stated Shelton. “I am going out to play with somebody who refused to observe with me 4 instances earlier than, at the least he hadn’t seen my service but.”
