Ben Shelton's Public Heartfelt Plea To His Sister

Ben Shelton's journey at Wimbledon 2025 was already a career-defining run, but the rising tennis star continues to prove that his family does indeed keep him going. After his impressive third-round win over Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton made a plea that had both fans and media alike grinning. He wanted his sister, Emma Shelton, to have fewer shifts at work so she could stay and watch him compete in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

"My sister's here. She's been here for every match I've played. She's been the lucky charm," Ben said in a press conference on July 5, after his win. His touching speech was proof that they have a special bond, with the WAG supporting him during every game. But there was one glitch: Emma, who works at Morgan Stanley in the U.S., had to return to work on Monday.

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Ben was determined not to let the momentum slip and requested the help of the Wimbledon crowd. "If any of you all have some connections and can get her a couple extra days off so she can [stay and] we can keep this rolling," he then jokingly added, earning a mix of boos and some cheers from the audience, who very obviously didn't want to see Emma go either.

And as it happens, Ben's impassioned pitch was a winning one. Hours after the press conference, Emma wrote on Instagram that her return flight had been canceled, meaning she would stick around and cheer her brother on as he played his quarterfinal match. "Return flight: canceled," Emma had written atop a July 5 Instagram Story, as fans joked that her brother's request for more time off had worked out in spades.

Ben Shelton's tearful dedication to his sister, Emma, and his half-joking, half-serious appeal for help not only demonstrated his gratitude but also reinforced his values of family, helping to kick-start his career. As he heads into the next round at Wimbledon, Shelton will surely have his leading lady by his side, and the crowd will likely be rooting for more than just his brawn.