American tennis prodigy Ben Shelton has lifted the lid on one of the most peculiar fan interactions of his young career, an encounter so strange it left him utterly bewildered.
The 18-year-old, who has taken the ATP tour by storm with his powerful serve and explosive gameplay, recounted the incident during a light-hearted segment at the US Open. Instead of the usual request for an autograph or a selfie, a spectator approached him with a demand that was entirely out of the ordinary.
'He came up to me and was like, 'Can you wipe your sweat on this towel and give it to me?',' Shelton revealed, clearly still amused by the memory. The bizarre ask was for the athlete to essentially donate his perspiration as a unique, if not unsettling, souvenir.
Shelton's reaction was one of pure disbelief. He admitted his response was a simple, stunned: 'What? No. I'm not doing that.' The request stands out as the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked of him, highlighting the sometimes unpredictable nature of spectator interactions in the high-octane world of professional sports.
The young star, known for his focused demeanour on court, handled the situation with good humour, but the story serves as a reminder of the oddities public figures can face. This incident adds to the growing lore around the talented player, who is quickly becoming as known for his compelling personality as for his thunderous serves.
