Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ben Shelton left BBC presenter Annabel Croft red-faced during a light-hearted interview following his fourth-round win.
The American, ranked No. 10 in the world, produced another impressive performance to beat big-serving Lorenzo Sonego in four sets on Court One.
Shelton lost the opener 6-3 but recovered superbly to win the next three sets and advance to the quarter-finals, where he will meet world number one Jannik Sinner or Grigor Dimitrov.
The 22-year-old is enjoying a breakout year, having reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the fourth round of the French Open before his run in SW19.
Shortly after the victory over Sonego, the BBC’s Croft was given the task of conducting Shelton’s on-court interview and asked the emerging star about his performance and his growing reputation.
Croft then asked Shelton about his love of American football but made a slight faux pas which he was quick to pick up on.
‘Just finally, I was reading that in college you loved your American football and you were a quarterbacker,’ Croft said. ‘I hope I got that right. What are the comparisons between tennis and American football?’
Shelton replied: ‘I’m not sure many people in the crowd know what that is. It’s that sport where they use that brown, oval-shaped ball, and sometimes they kick it between the uprights.
‘I grew up playing quarterback – or “quarter-backer”, either way…’
Shelton’s sarcastic response drew laughs from the spectators and the BBC commentators who had been covering his game and led to Croft grinning sheepishly while playing with her hair.
The American number two added: ‘I always loved playing team sports and obviously now I’m playing an individual sport but I have a team supporting me who I work with every day.
‘I don’t want to be out here by myself, I want to do it with people I love and I have a lot of people I love over there.’
Sonego was the first player to take a set off Shelton at Wimbledon but the Italian was ultimately outplayed and sent home by the Florida-born star.
On the match, Shelton said: ‘It was really difficult. I feel like every time I play Lorenzo Sonego, every time I need a big point he comes out with a highlight shot. Maybe it’s the same vice-versa as well.
‘It was a lot of fun. I’m getting very comfortable out here on court one, I love playing in front of you guys.
‘I was told that the crowds here at Wimbledon, before I came over here for the first time, were a bit quieter but I’ve got to say I didn’t feel that today.
‘I’m happy with the way I played that last game. I felt like that was my best tennis, my best returning, and that’s what I’m going to need to continue in this tournament.
‘For me to end the match with that game, it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.’
His dad and coach Bryan Shelton was also a professional tennis player and reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1994.
Asked who inspired his style on the grass, the current tennis star added: ‘Definitely my dad. He was in the round of 16 here 31 years ago, give or take.
‘He loved a serve and volley. He had a big serve, he came forward all the time and he would like to see me come forward more than I am.
‘My argument is that I think I’m better than him from the baseline. He inspires the way that I play on grass.’
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