US Open: Ben Shelton says ‘imitation is flattery’ as Novak Djokovic copies his phone celebration after thumping win
- Dialled-in Djokovic disconnects Shelton’s dream run in semis, twisting the knife as he copies young American’s favoured on-court celebration
- Daniil Medvedev shocks defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, denying tennis fans the blockbuster finish to grand slam season they hoped to see
A dialled-in Novak Djokovic disconnected Ben Shelton’s dream US Open run in the semi-finals on Friday, twisting the knife as he copied the young American’s favoured on-court celebration after clinching it in three sets.
The veteran Djokovic held off a late-match surge from the 20-year-old to reach his 10th US Open final, prevailing 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 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. I thought it was very original, and I copied him. I stole his celebration,” Djokovic, who will face Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final, told reporters with a grin.
Medvedev shocked defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday, denying tennis fans the blockbuster finish to the grand slam season they had been hoping to see.
Shelton said he had not seen Djokovic’s move until after the match – but added that he would not tell another opponent how to celebrate.
