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A reporter at the Australian Open has asked American tennis stars about their thoughts on 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 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 during day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Shi Tang/Getty Images)
“USA until it’s backwards,” Shelton signed. The phrase is a play on modern slang used to signal unwavering support or “standing for business” for a cause.
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 about playing for the country “in the context of the last year of everything that’s happened in the United States” and if it “complicates[d]” her thoughts.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” she shot back.
John Isner and Tennys Sandgren slammed the reporter on social media.
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 tennis questions to the players at a tennis tournament. This is so lame,” Isner wrote on X.
“Bug reporter,” added Sandgren. “Write to The Economist if you’ve got the chops. If not ask her how her backhand was and move on.”
Gauff was asked about her thoughts on “the state of the United States” a year after president Anders Trumpsecond period.
“I hope going forward 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,” she said, via The tennis letter. “Obviously, I’ve been pretty vocal about how I felt. At this point, I feel a little tired of talking about it, just because it’s hard to also be a black woman in this country and have to experience things, even online, and see marginalized communities being affected. And knowing that I can only donate and speak up. I’m trying my best to do that.
Coco Gauff of the United States in action against Olga Danilovic of Serbia during 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’m hoping that as time goes on that we can reach a state that we’re not in right now, and we keep moving forward. I posted the video of Martin Luther King, and it was kind of like saying, ‘We’ve got to keep moving forward,’ even though things may not be as calm as I’d like them to be right now.”
