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An Australian Open journalist has been asking American tennis stars what they think about the country and what it’s like to represent the Stars and Stripes.
Ben Shelton apparently gave his answer without even being asked.
After a victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open early Saturday morning, Shelton participated in the tennis tradition of signing a camera, but delivered a direct message.
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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 January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Shi Tang/Getty Images)
“America until it’s upside down,” Shelton signed. The phrase is a play on modern slang used to signal unwavering support or “standing firm” for a cause.
Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka were asked similar questions by a single journalist at the Australian Open. Anisimova was specifically asked if she had any thoughts about playing for the country “in the context of the last year of everything that’s been happening in the United States” and if that “complicates[d]”your thoughts.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” she replied.
John Isner and Tennys Sandgren criticized the journalist on social networks.
Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates after defeating Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
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“Popular opinion: Let’s ask players about tennis at a tennis tournament. This is so boring,” Isner wrote in X.
“Bug reporter,” Sandgren added. “Go write for The Economist if you have the skills. If not, ask them how they felt about their setback and move on.”
Gauff was asked what she thought about the “state of America” a year after becoming president. donald Triumphsecond term.
“I hope that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we talk to each other about different topics and things like that,” he said, via The tennis card. “Obviously, I’ve been pretty vocal about how I feel. At this point, I feel a little fatigued from talking about it just because of the fact that it’s also hard to be a black woman in this country and have to experience things, even online, and see how marginalized communities are affected. And knowing that I can only donate and speak out, I do my best to do that.
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 January 21, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
“But yeah, I hope that as time goes on we can get to a state that we’re not currently in and keep moving forward. I posted the Martin Luther King video and that was like saying, ‘We need to keep moving forward,’ even when things may not be as calm as I would like them to be right now.”
