In a surprising turn of events, US tennis star Ben Shelton refused to engage in a pre-match interview at the Eisenhower Cup, leaving spectators and fans scratching their heads in confusion. The 22-year-old athlete directly declared his disinclination to speak with the on-court interviewer, hinting at an underlying issue.
The unexpected snub occurred during the 2025 edition of the Eisenhower Cup, a much-anticipated Tie-Break Tens event at Indian Wells on Tuesday night. Shelton, along with Emma Navarro, the defending champions, were set to face Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur in their opening match.
However, before the match could commence, a seemingly routine interview turned heads when Shelton, the ATP world No. 12, told the interviewer, “Someone else gotta grab the mic, I’m not talking to you.” Despite this abrupt dismissal, the reporter maintained his composure and redirected his questions to Navarro.
This incident has sparked a barrage of speculation amongst fans, with some attributing Shelton’s refusal to the noises the interviewer made just before trying to speak with him. A video documenting this odd occurrence is circulating online, inviting tennis enthusiasts to form their own opinions.
This is not the first time Shelton has expressed his disapproval of the media. Recalling his Australian Open press conference, the young tennis star voiced his dissatisfaction with how some on-court interviews were being conducted. He also admitted to feeling uncomfortable with certain questions and comments lobbed his way.
Shelton, who reached the semifinals of the 2023 US Open, stated, “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.” He also mentioned an instance involving Learner Tien following his match with Daniil Medvedev, labeling the interview as “embarrassing and disrespectful.”
Despite the pre-match controversy, Shelton and Navarro managed to secure a victory against Boulter and de Minaur with a score of 10-7. However, their journey in the Eisenhower Cup ended in the semifinals, where they were defeated by Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina.
