Taylor Townsend Compares Son's Forehand to Ben Shelton's

Townsend sees similarities between her 4-year-old son's tennis skills and her friend Shelton's powerful forehand.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Tennis player Taylor Townsend recently took to Instagram to share a video of her 4-year-old son, Adyn Aubrey Johnson (AJ), practicing his tennis skills. In the caption, Townsend couldn't help but draw a comparison between AJ's forehand and the distinct style of her good friend, fellow American tennis player Ben Shelton, whose forehand is widely regarded as one of the most electric shots on the ATP Tour.

Why it matters

Townsend and Shelton have a close friendship that extends beyond the court, and this comparison highlights the warm bond they share. It also suggests that Townsend's son is already showing promise as a tennis player, potentially following in the footsteps of his mother and her friend.

The details

Townsend and Shelton first connected at the 2023 US Open, where they teamed up for the mixed doubles event and reached the semifinals. Since then, they have remained close friends, often cheering for one another and engaging in lighthearted banter. Townsend's recent Instagram post suggests that this friendship has even extended to her family, with her son AJ seemingly taking after Shelton's powerful forehand.

  • Townsend recently shared the video of her son practicing on the tennis courts on her Instagram story.

The players

Taylor Townsend

An American professional tennis player who has competed on the WTA Tour.

Ben Shelton

An American professional tennis player who has had success on the ATP Tour, known for his powerful forehand.

Adyn Aubrey Johnson

Townsend's 4-year-old son, who is showing promise as a tennis player.

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What they’re saying

“AJ got that sauce on the FH like @benshelton😂🤯♥️”

— Taylor Townsend (Instagram)

The takeaway

Townsend's comparison of her son's tennis skills to Shelton's highlights the close friendship between the two players and the potential for AJ to follow in their footsteps as a promising young tennis talent.