The post-match on-court interview has long been a staple of tennis coverage on television. Generally, these interviews are pretty inoffensive. Players are asked some questions about the match, say some nice things about their opponent, are then asked about their next opponent, and say some nice things about them. But they’ve taken on a life of their own at the Australian Open this year.
This isn’t to say these interviews are mundane. Fan favorites are able to share their personalities and engage with the crowd. But it’s rare that these interviews turn hostile, or are at least perceived as hostile from the players. That’s apparently how one star American tennis player feels, however.
Ben Shelton, the current world No. 20 and the fourth-highest ranked American tennis player, used his post-match press conference after his quarterfinal win on Wednesday to blast the on-court interviewers at the Australian Open.
Interesting end to Ben Shelton’s press conference.
Unprompted, he took a moment to tear into the quality of local broadcasting and specifically on-court interviewing at #AusOpen. pic.twitter.com/ig76VrKq2C
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 22, 2025
Unprompted, before ending his press availability, Shelton expressed his dissatisfaction with the AO broadcasters. (Transcription courtesy of Ben Rothenberg.)
“One thing that I just want to say before we’re done: I’ve been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters.
“I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself. I noticed it with Learner Tien in one of his matches. I think when he beat Medvedev his post-match interview, I thought it was kind of embarrassing and disrespectful that interview.
“There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, ‘Hey, Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad.’ Or today on the court, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?’
“I mean, may be true! But I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life.
“I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments. I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change.”
The comments come after a series of high-profile incidents regarding comments a Channel 9 broadcaster made about Novak Djokovic, which prompted the star tennis player to boycott on-court interviews until the broadcaster in question issued an apology.
But to Shelton, those occurrences were not isolated incidents. The American mentioned a question he found offensive after his fourth round win in which the interviewer suggested Gael Monfils, the 38-year old Frenchman, could be his dad. Shelton, in the moment, asked the interviewer, “Is that a black joke?” Though he later backtracked in his post-match press conference saying that he did not think the question was racially charged.
This certainly isn’t the first time tennis players and the media covering their sport have found themselves in adversarial circumstances. Heck, Naomi Osaka has taken multiple hiatuses in her career that were largely a result of how she perceived the media treated her.
Ben Shelton’s post-match interview on Wednesday seems to be the straw that broke the camels back for him personally. The 22-year old is now headed to his second-ever Grand Slam semifinal at this year’s Australian Open and has a right to believe that that moment should be celebrated, rather than spun negatively by an interviewer immediately after one of the biggest wins of his career.
It’s safe to say that the Australian Open interviewers are now on notice.