He knows he has plenty of work to do, but luckily only has a third round to defend in New York this year, having reached the semi-final in 2023.<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton admits he\u2019s struggling in key area<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after his rock-solid opening-round win over Mackenzie McDonald, they sought to quiz him on how he\u2019s adapting to life after Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton<\/a> was open and insightful in his reply, telling the Washington Open<\/a> media: \u201cI mean, 100% it\u2019s getting used to the harder contact on the ground. You\u2019re used to playing on soft surfaces in the European swing. Whether it\u2019s the clay courts where it\u2019s easier to slide on or the grass courts.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, on grass it\u2019s a different beast playing here on the hard courts. It\u2019s a lot harder on the legs, for sure. And then the heat is a huge thing for me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I\u2019m in Florida, trying to get acclimatised as quickly as possible, I only had a week. Getting up, in the hot tub, up to my neck for 15 minutes at a time, doing sessions like that, unless I have a sauna, then, you know, sauna sessions as well are really important. But to be able to get used to being in the heat and go over the top so it doesn\u2019t feel so hot on the court. Obviously, on a 95-degree day on the hard court, it feels like 115 or 120.<\/p>\n \u201cSo there is a lot of things that go into playing on the hard courts, being ready to play on top of just your tennis game. That\u2019s what makes the U.S. summer a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2161025458-1024x681.jpg\")
Photo by Adam Pretty\/Getty Images<\/p>\n