Ben Shelton<\/a> apparently gave his answer without even being asked.<\/p>\n After a victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open early Saturday morning, Shelton took part in the tennis tradition of signing a camera but delivered a pointed message.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Ben Shelton of the United States reacts in the Men’s Singles Third Round match against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco during day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.\u00a0 (Shi Tang\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “USA \u2018til it\u2019s backwards,” Shelton signed. The phrase is a play on modern slang used to signal unwavering support or “standing on business” for a cause.<\/p>\n Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka have all been asked similar questions by a single reporter at the Australian Open. Anisimova was specifically asked if she had any feelings on playing for the country “in the context of the last year of everything<\/a> that\u2019s been happening in the U.S.,” and if it “complicate[d]” her thoughts.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t think that\u2019s relevant,” she fired back.<\/p>\n John Isner and Tennys Sandgren slammed the reporter on social media.<\/p>\n Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.\u00a0 (AP Photo\/Manish Swarup)<\/p>\n TENNIS STAR MOCKS JEERING CROWD WITH PROVOCATIVE DANCE AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN VICTORY<\/a><\/p>\n “Popular opinion: Let\u2019s ask tennis questions to the players at a tennis tournament. This is so lame,” Isner wrote on X.<\/p>\n “Bug reporter,” Sandgren added. “Go write for the Economist if you have the chops. If not ask her how her backhand felt and move on.”<\/p>\n Gauff was asked about her thoughts on the “state of the U.S.” one year into President\u00a0Donald <\/a>Trump\u2019s<\/a> second term.<\/p>\n “I hope forward that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other about different topics and things like that,” she said, via\u00a0The Tennis Letter<\/a>. “Obviously, I\u2019ve been pretty vocal about how I felt. At this point, I feel a bit fatigued talking about it just because of the fact that it is hard also being a Black woman in this country and having to experience things, even online, and seeing marginalized communities being affected. And knowing that I can only donate and speak out. I try my best to do that.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff of the United States in action against Olga Danilovic of Serbia in the second round on Day 4 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 21, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Robert Prange\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n “But, yeah, I hope that as time continues that we can reach a state that we\u2019re not currently in, and we keep moving forward. I posted the video of Martin Luther King and that was kind of saying, \u2018We must keep moving forward,\u2019 even as things may not be as calm as I\u2019d like it to be right now.”<\/p>\n Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a>,\u00a0and subscribe to\u00a0the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n ![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ben-shelton-12426.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ben-shelton.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Coco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tennis-coco-gauff-012126-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n