Shelton's young escort dances into finals spotlight
Amid the Nitto ATP Finals' relentless pressure, Ben Shelton shares a joyful walk-on with a seven-year-old mascot, blending innocence with the intensity of his debut against Alexander Zverev.
With his all-action game and on-court charisma, Ben Shelton has established himself as a fans' favorite around the world on the ATP Tour. Yet it was his turn to stand back and enjoy someone else’s fancy footwork on court earlier this week at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 23-year-old American, known for booming lefty serves and aggressive baseline pressure, stepped into Inalpi Arena carrying the season's accumulated tension, ready to unleash his power on indoor hard courts where every skid and bounce amplifies the stakes.
Debut walk-on sparks unexpected levity
When Shelton stepped out Sunday for his debut at the prestigious season finale against Alexander Zverev, he took the hand of seven-year-old Gioele, one of the participants in this year’s Nitto Mascot Programme. The pair crossed the court amid a capacity crowd's rising hum, the arena lights casting long shadows that seemed to soften with their steps. Reaching the chair, Gioele broke free with a series of dance moves, echoing a player's warm-up but infused with pure, unscripted joy that rippled through the hushed anticipation.
This interlude cut through the pre-match weight, where Shelton's mind likely raced with tactical blueprints—disrupting Zverev's steady returns with inside-out forehands and low-skidding slices. The crowd's energy shifted from focused buzz to shared warmth, a brief counterpoint to the round-robin grind ahead, where footwork and mental resets decide survival in tight groups.
“I think regardless of who he walked out with, he was going to hit those dance moves,” Shelton said with a smile, when asked about the walk-on. “It's cool. I love being able to inspire the next generation. The young kids that you can have an influence on are the fans that I really love to see excited about the tennis.”
Watch: Shelton’s Fun Moment With Nitto Mascot Gioele In Turin:
Mascots connect illness to arena inspiration
As in previous years, walk-on mascots like Gioele escort players onto court for every singles match at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals. The children come from Casa UGI, a Turin-based volunteer organization that supports kids battling cancer and their families, doctors, nurses, and volunteers—participants who have faced illness themselves or supported loved ones through it. For Shelton, whose season blended breakout wins with grueling qualifiers, this ritual offered a human anchor before the tactical duel, where Zverev's deep crosscourt backhands demand constant footwork adjustments on the swift surface.
Such moments highlight how elite tennis intersects with real-world resilience, easing the psychological load of indoor hard courts that reward aggressive 1–2 combinations but punish rushed net approaches. Shelton's engagement, free of the racquet's demands, underscored the sport's broadening appeal, drawing younger eyes to its blend of power and precision.
“That's cool to see the fanbase that we have in our sport get younger and younger," Shelton reflected. “That was a really special moment, for sure. Anytime I have interaction with kids that are excited at tournaments or practices, wherever it is, it makes me happy.”
Hope lifts spirits in Turin's pressure cooker
Professore Enrico Pira, president of UGI - Unione Genitori Italiani contro il tumore dei bambini ODV, emphasized the program's value in providing these children with uplifting diversions. He noted how such experiences deliver lightness and joy, renewing energy and affirming hope amid challenges, much like a well-placed down-the-line pass that turns defensive rallies into attacking opportunities. For Shelton, this connection fueled his resolve, reminding him that the finals' intensity—navigating group math with varied serves and underspin variations—thrives on communal threads as much as strategic depth.
Inalpi Arena's electric tempo, with its quick bounces favoring Shelton's explosive style against Zverev's patient redirects, amplifies every exchange, yet these off-court sparks ground the pros. As the round-robin unfolds, blending tactical adaptability with moments of genuine connection could propel him deeper, sustaining the chase through semifinals and beyond while inspiring a new wave of fans to the court's edge.
