Ben Shelton gives poignant patriotic message after Australian Open victory

A newsman astatine the Australian Open has been asking American tennis stars their thoughts connected the state and what it's similar to correspond the Stars and Stripes.

Ben Shelton seemingly gave his reply without adjacent being asked.

After a triumph implicit Valentin Vacherot successful the 3rd circular of the Australian Open aboriginal Saturday morning, Shelton took portion successful the tennis contented of signing a camera but delivered a pointed message.

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Ben Shelton of the United States reacts successful the Men's Singles Third Round lucifer against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco during time 7 of the 2026 Australian Open astatine Melbourne Park connected Jan. 24, 2026 successful Melbourne, Australia.  (Shi Tang/Getty Images)

"USA ‘til it’s backwards," Shelton signed. The operation is simply a play connected modern slang utilized to awesome unwavering enactment oregon "standing connected business" for a cause.

Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka person each been asked akin questions by a azygous newsman astatine the Australian Open. Anisimova was specifically asked if she had immoderate feelings connected playing for the state "in the discourse of the past twelvemonth of everything that’s been happening successful the U.S.," and if it "complicate[d]" her thoughts.

"I don’t deliberation that’s relevant," she fired back.

John Isner and Tennys Sandgren slammed the newsman connected societal media.

Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates aft defeating Lorenzo Sonego of Italy successful their quarterfinal lucifer astatine the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.  (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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"Popular opinion: Let’s inquire tennis questions to the players astatine a tennis tournament. This is truthful lame," Isner wrote connected X.

"Bug reporter," Sandgren added. "Go constitute for the Economist if you person the chops. If not inquire her however her backhand felt and determination on."

Gauff was asked astir her thoughts connected the "state of the U.S." 1 twelvemonth into President Donald Trump’s 2nd term.

"I anticipation guardant that we tin person a batch much bid successful our state and much kindness successful the mode we talk to each different astir antithetic topics and things similar that," she said, via The Tennis Letter. "Obviously, I’ve been beauteous vocal astir however I felt. At this point, I consciousness a spot fatigued talking astir it conscionable due to the fact that of the information that it is hard besides being a Black pistillate successful this state and having to acquisition things, adjacent online, and seeing marginalized communities being affected. And knowing that I tin lone donate and talk out. I effort my champion to bash that.

Coco Gauff of the United States successful enactment against Olga Danilovic of Serbia successful the 2nd circular connected Day 4 of the 2026 Australian Open astatine Melbourne Park connected Jan. 21, 2026 successful Melbourne, Australia. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

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"But, yeah, I anticipation that arsenic clip continues that we tin scope a authorities that we’re not presently in, and we support moving forward. I posted the video of Martin Luther King and that was benignant of saying, ‘We indispensable support moving forward,’ adjacent arsenic things whitethorn not beryllium arsenic calm arsenic I’d similar it to beryllium close now."

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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