World No. 13 Ben Shelton shared his outlook ahead of competing at the Madrid Masters.
– How do you like Madrid? How does the local clay feel, is everything okay?
– Yes, everything is good. I`m learning and improving quickly on this surface. I`m happy to be here in Madrid.
– You did great, reaching the final in Munich was awesome! I know you love hard courts and play very well on them. Have you and your team adjusted your preparation for clay in any way? Maybe something has changed compared to last year?
– Yes, right now I`m focusing heavily on strategy and tactics. It`s important to manage the pace of my shots, knowing when to prolong rallies and play slower than on hard courts, where I often look to come forward to the net. On clay, you have to think about different aspects of the game. Movement is also absolutely key – the better I can move on this surface, the more it benefits my overall game.
– One more question, hopefully not too personal, regarding Trinity. She`s an incredible athlete; she follows us, and we follow her journey. We believe she contributes significantly to women`s sports, particularly soccer. Do you feel there are aspects you learn from each other or experiences you share as professional athletes?
– We actually have a lot in common. We deal with similar things: media commitments, brand partnerships – everything that`s part of our respective sports, careers, and lifestyles. It`s really inspiring to watch how she manages everything on a daily basis.
Marcus Blakely