Tennis often forges some of the strongest bonds among players, and the camaraderie on tour is a testament to that. Recently, American WTA stars Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula spoke about how good their male counterparts, including Ben Shelton, are at cheering them on during practice. Both agreed that this genuine encouragement from the men is one of the ‘best feelings’ they experience.
How Do the American Men, Including Ben Shelton, Hype Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula?
Shelton recently made his comeback at the Shanghai Masters after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained at the US Open. However, to the surprise of many of his fans, his return was short-lived, as he suffered a straight-sets defeat to David Goffin in the second round.
Meanwhile, Keys has been absent from the tour since her first-round exit at the US Open because of a recurring shoulder injury derailing her season. Pegula, on the other hand, recently enjoyed an impressive run at the Wuhan Open, where she battled her way to the final before losing to compatriot Coco Gauff.
Though currently away from competition, Keys and Pegula recently released a new episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast,’ also featuring former World No. 13 Jennifer Brady. During the conversation, Keys shared that she and Brady had a fun practice session not long ago, and interestingly, Shelton was right there, hyping them up throughout.
“We had a nice little practice session. We had Ben (Shelton) next to us, hyping us up, which is always nice. He is really good hyping,” she said.
Pegula, seemingly excited, added:
“I love when the guys hype you up. It’s like the best feeling. They are so good at it.”
He looked over at one point, and he was like, that was the most unreal forehand that I have seen. I said thanks,” she said.
As Keys concluded, Brady had an amusing anecdote to share. The 30-year-old humorously recalled a practice drill where Shelton enthusiastically praised Keys’ shots as “the best” he’d ever seen. However, on the next ball, Keys mishit entirely, sending it into the tarp, while Brady burst out laughing.
What Else Did Pegula Say About the American Men?
Later in the conversation, Pegula expressed her appreciation for supportive male players, especially Americans, who hype her up during practice. She explained that their encouragement boosts her confidence and energy, while humorously wondering if they similarly celebrate their own successful shots.
“I love when the guys are great hype men though, especially at least the American guys because that’s the only people I would be talking to next to a practice. But they definitely hype you up. You feel so good, you feel fired up. It just gives you confidence. And then I’m like, do they think about that to themselves, when they hit a good shot? Are they telling themselves? And I am like, yeah probably. Wow I am so good,” she said.
Pegula and Keys’ experiences underscore just how meaningful the men’s support has been. A similar moment unfolded last month, when American players including Taylor Fritz, Alex Michelsen, and Reilly Opelka sent an encouraging message to Pegula-led Team USA ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup final.
