Game changers: Tiafoe, Eubanks and Shelton want to push tennis forward 

We can see why UTS is a perfect fit for Americans Frances Tiafoe, Chris Eubanks and Ben Shelton: both have a vision for the future of tennis and the passion to bring change to the sport. 

Tiafoe, who made his top 10 debut earlier this summer, has always been a showstopping talent that wants his matches to be main attractions. 

“For me, I want to win Grand Slams but I want to impact people and really be remembered,” he said, during a the new UTS video “All on the tables, tennis talk like never before” available on UTS YouTube channel. “We have an ability – we’re going to be the reason why the game changes. It’s just a fact, and it’s heavy because it’s in our hands bro – it’s wild, man!”

Eubanks, who made his top 100 debut earlier this season, takes it upon himself to open doors for others just as they have been opened for him. He talked at length about the way he was shown the ropes of the ATP Tour by older pros like former world No 38 Donald Young.

Like Tiafoe, he wants to be an impactful impact and an agent of change. 

“If DY (Donald Young) didn’t let me travel with him and practice with him every day, there’s no chance I would have progressed through juniors to college the way I did,” he said, adding: “When you’re talking about impact and stuff, it’s like, well, why not use the stuff that they gave me to give to whoever else is coming up?” 

Tiafoe, who hails from the Washington, D.C. area, says that for him it is important to know that he’s inspiring younger players. He spoke of fellow D.C. players Hailey Baptiste and Robin Montgomery, and how moved he was to find that they credited him for inspiring their careers. 

“They said there is no way I would ever even think about doing half the things I’ve done if there was no Frances Tiafoe – I looked at that video and I was like Holy ****. I replayed that video like ten times,” Tiafoe said. “You start realizing what you’re  doing –  it’s not going unnoticed, bro. When you really start making moves out here, that stuff doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Shelton is new to the tour, but he has exploded onto the scene with his captivating game and personality. The 20-year-old says that he wants to have a career that transcends the tennis court. 

“I think it’d be cool to have a story not just on the court,” he said. “I want to be a champion in tennis, but look at Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Roger Federer. The stories that they have on the court, off the court, all the things that they have done that’s not just being a tennis player. I think that’s the coolest opportunity that I see in being a professional athlete. 

“The impact that you can have on people. Obviously, you have to get yourself to a level first that people respect you. When you say something, you want to change something or you care about something in the world like, ‘Okay, this dude is serious – he’s not playing. 

“I want to be able to say something on a big stage one day and have it really carry some weight.”

The Americans embody the UTS spirit of transcending the game. There’s more to tennis than meets the eye, and with candid personality, bubbling passion and respect for those who came before, Tiafoe, Shelton and Eubanks are paying it forward, one good deed at a time.