Australian Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton launches unprompted attack on tournament broadcasters

American semi-finalist Ben Shelton has slammed Australian Open broadcasters in an unprompted and scathing finish to his winning press conference on Wednesday night.

Speaking after surviving a grinding four-set battle against plucky Italian Lorenzo Sonego to book his first semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park, the 21st seed took it upon himself to call out some “embarrassing and disrespectful” behaviour.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australian Open player tees off on local broadcaster.

Nine host Tony Jones was this week forced to issue an apology to Novak Djokovic and his Serbian fans for seemingly mocking them during a bizarre sports read on the channel’s nightly news last Friday.

Djokovic subsequently boycotted the broadcaster, refusing to do an on-court interview after wins until he received the apology.

But Shelton feels Jones’s now-infamous on-air sledge of Djokovic was not just a “single event”.

“One thing that I just want to say before we’re done,” the 22-year-old began.

“I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself.

“I noticed it with Learner Tien in one of his matches. I think when he beat Medvedev, his post-match interview, I thought it was kind of embarrassing and disrespectful, that interview.”

After defeating Sonego, Shelton was asked about the prospect of facing either world No.1 Jannik Sinner or Australian hero Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals and the crowd almost certainly being against him, regardless of the opponent.

“You guys can boo me, you can throw stuff in my head, I understand,” a grinning Shelton responded at the time.

But during the takedown, he admitted taking offence to that question, and a previous one about the possibility that Frenchman Gael Monflis could be his father.

“There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, ‘Hey, (Gael) Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad’,” Shelton said.

“Or today on the court, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?’

“I mean, may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life.

“I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments.

“I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity.

“I think that’s something that needs to change.”

Earlier, Shelton failed to lose another point after crashing into the advertising boards, getting up from the ground via a push-up, during a rollercoaster fourth-set tiebreaker.

Shelton roared after securing the victory, then passionately celebrated with members of his box.

In Shelton’s second major semi-final, after previously making the final four at the US Open in 2023, he will meet Sinner after the Italian star demolished de Minaur in less than two hours.

Ranked 55, Sonego had previously never made it past the fourth round at a grand slam.

Despite playing a wildcard and two qualifiers in three of his first four matches at the Open, Sonego threatened to take Shelton to a fifth and deciding set after dropping the first two.

In a rare mid-match display of camaraderie, Shelton shook hands with Sonego at the end after an extraordinary point.

Sonego pulled off an unplayable backhand volley, diving to return an attempted passing shot, with the ball spinning away from Shelton after bouncing to the other side of the net.

- With AAP