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An Australian Open reporter asked American tennis stars what they thought of the country and what it meant to represent the Stars and Stripes.
Ben Shelton apparently gave his answer without even being asked.
Following his victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open early Saturday morning, Shelton participated in the tennis tradition of signing on camera but delivered a pointed message.
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Ben Shelton of the United States reacts during the men’s singles third round match against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco on day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Shi Tang/Getty Images)
“The United States until it’s upside down,” Shelton signed off. The phrase is a modern slang play used to signal unwavering support or “doing business” for a cause.
Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka were all asked similar questions by a single reporter at the Australian Open. Anisimova was specifically asked if she had any feelings about playing for the country “in the context of last year of everything that happened in the United States” and if it “complicates[d]” his thoughts.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” she retorted.
John Isner and Tennys Sandgren criticized the journalist on social media.
American Ben Shelton celebrates after defeating Italian Lorenzo Sonego in their quarter-final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
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“Popular opinion: Let’s ask players tennis questions at a tennis tournament. This is so lame,” Isner wrote on X.
“Bug reporter,” Sandgren added. “Go write for The Economist if you have the ability. If not, ask him how his setback felt and move on.”
Gauff was asked about her thoughts on “the state of America” a year after becoming president. Donald Assetsecond term.
“I hope that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way that we talk to each other about different topics and things like that,” she said via The tennis letter. “Obviously, I’ve talked a lot about how I feel. At this point, I feel a little tired of talking about it just because it’s also hard being a black woman in this country and having to go through things, even online, and seeing marginalized communities being affected. And knowing that I can only donate and speak out. I’m trying my best to do that.
American Coco Gauff in action against Serbian Olga Danilovic in the second round on Day 4 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Robert Prangé/Getty Images)
“But yeah, I hope that over time we can reach a state that we’re not in now and that we continue to move forward. I posted the Martin Luther King video and that was kind of saying, ‘We have to keep moving forward,’ even though things might not be as calm as I would like right now.”
