Ben Shelton is making waves on the court, but not just for his powerful serves or jaw-dropping forehands. During his intense first-round battle against France’s Corentin Moutet at the Paris Masters, Shelton had fans buzzing—and not all of it was about his tennis. Spectators couldn’t help but notice Shelton’s excessive sweating, sparking questions about whether something unusual was going on.
After an exhausting run to the Swiss Indoors final just two days earlier, Shelton had barely recovered before facing Moutet. The American, currently ranked 19th, didn’t expect a marathon match against world number 70. Yet, after nearly two-and-a-half hours, Shelton finally clinched a victory, 6-3, 6(8)-7, 6-3. But it was his visible exhaustion and profuse sweating that took center stage, with fans wondering what could be behind his uncharacteristic struggle on the court.
Some pointed to the conditions and Shelton’s back-to-back schedule. Playing in a tightly packed season, Shelton had just finished his Swiss Indoors campaign, where he battled through each round to reach the finals against another French powerhouse, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. After that grueling match, Shelton jokingly told his opponent, “I almost killed myself trying to return your serve.” The toll from Switzerland may have carried over into Paris, where he had just 48 hours to bounce back.
As Shelton squared off with Moutet, the pressure was compounded by the intense home crowd. Playing against a French player on French soil is no easy task, and the fans were relentless. But Shelton’s high-energy game also meant he couldn’t hold back his emotions; his passionate reactions to winning points sparked some displeasure from the Parisian crowd. Fans on social media had mixed reactions, with one saying, “This shouldn’t be happening against Moutet but okay…”
Shelton’s situation brings back memories of Jack Draper’s struggles at the US Open earlier this season. Draper battled through stifling humidity, saying afterward, “It’s the worst feeling ever.” He sweated heavily, felt sick, and required medical attention during his semi-final match. Shelton’s excessive sweating seemed to echo Draper’s, reminding fans of the toll that high-intensity, back-to-back matches can take on a player’s body.
Hydration and recovery are crucial, and for Shelton, this brutal stretch has underscored the demands of playing at the top. As he moves forward in Paris, fans will be watching to see how he holds up against increasingly challenging opponents, hoping his sweat-drenched performance is a one-time affair and not a lasting concern.
One thing is clear: Shelton’s passion, perseverance, and a little bit of theatrics are captivating the tennis world, and all eyes will be on him as he battles both his opponents and the intensity of the tennis calendar.
