World No. 10 and tournament top seed Ben Shelton opened the spirit of the Mallorca Championships presented by ecotrans Group on Friday with a light-hearted and crowd-pleasing hit with Champi, the tournament’s official mascot.
The two shared a fun rally on the Centre Court of the Mallorca Country Club, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting fifth edition of the ATP 250 tournament, which officially begins tomorrow, Saturday 21 June. After the playful exchange, Shelton met with members of the press to share his thoughts on the event and his current form.
“It’s a great tournament, with an incredible atmosphere. I really like the fans, I like the courts – everything here is just really great,” said Shelton, who is playing in Santa Ponça for the third year in a row. “I hope I can keep coming back to Mallorca for a long time.”
Asked about his recent debut in the ATP Top 10, the American expressed his excitement:
“It’s a big milestone in my career. I’m really happy with the progress I’ve made. Just being able to travel the world and spend time in places I love – like Mallorca – is fabulous.”
Shelton also praised Rafael Nadal, calling him: “A great role model – both as a player and a competitor. A true inspiration.”
The Mallorca Championships presented by ecotrans Group will run until Sunday, 29 June, featuring some of the world’s top players and a full schedule of family-friendly events at the Mallorca Country Club in the municipality of Calvià.
