Overview
- After a third-round win over Valentin Vacherot, Ben Shelton signed the on-court camera with the message “USA ’til it’s backwards.”
- Shelton later wrote on Instagram that there was no underlying meaning, describing it as a nod to young Americans excelling in Melbourne and to girlfriend Trinity Rodman’s latest Team USA appearance.
- He was not among the U.S. players questioned by reporter Owen Lewis, who had asked others to reflect on the country “in the context of the last year.”
- Players listed as receiving similar questions included Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka, according to Fox News.
- Reaction split across the sport: John Isner and Tennys Sandgren criticized the line of questioning on social media, Gauff called for more peace while noting challenges as a Black woman, and Anisimova said she was proud to represent the United States.