Ben Shelton is a player that fans love and who will win important titles in the future. The young American talent has the right weapons to make a difference in modern tennis, starting with a powerful serve and a very incisive forehand. Ben is also very effective near the net, although he has to improve in terms of tactical match management and consistency throughout the season.
Ben Shelton, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Shelton has already made significant progress over the last two years and has taken away the satisfaction of beating very strong opponents, especially in tournaments on the hard court. Fans will remember that the American ace defeated current world number 1 Jannik Sinner in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai last year.
If he continues to improve and give his game even more order, Ben has the right characteristics to fit in the fight between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the ATP tour dominance. Men’s tennis is looking for new figures that can thrill fans after the Big 3. Roger Federer retired in 2022, while Rafael Nadal seems really close to giving up professional tennis. Novak Djokovic is still competitive and is the current number 4 in the world, but will turn 38 years old in 2025.
Shelton is very dangerous
Shelton played the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin this weekend and proved to have a lot of fun with his Team World’s teammates and his captain John McEnroe. In an interview during the 2024 Laver Cup, ATP legend McEnroe praised the young American ace: “I see Ben in the top five in the world if he keeps progressing. I think he’s got the ability. He wants it. He’s worked at it. He’s better than he was to me a year ago, more complete. But I think he’s going to be up there with those guys, and that would be great.”
He also added: “You know, I think American tennis is getting closer. You saw Taylor Fritz was in the final. Frances has been in a couple semis. Ben’s been in the semis. We’re going to make the breakthrough. Ben, I believe, is going to make a breakthrough in the next couple of years.”
John McEnroe and Ben Shelton© YouTube screenshot
Shelton knows he will have to work very hard to close the gap between him and the top players, but time is on his side. In a recent interview, the 21-year-old spoke about his team: “Yeah, for me it’s a combination. My team is very honest. They don’t sugarcoat things with me,” Ben Shelton said. “So, I know that if my dad tells me I have something locked in, I’m pretty locked in on it. If my strength coach tells me that I’m moving well and I look really good moving out of the corners, then I’m probably moving really well out of the corners.
From Washington, D.C. to now I feel like everything has gotten a little bit better each day. I thought I played well in Cincinnati and New York. I feel pretty fine-tuned with the little things on the court right now, and I’ve gotten a lot of match play, which coming into this event, I had little to no confidence, hardly any match wins.”
The young American can grow up
Ben will be one of the most dangerous players in the last part of the season, as tournaments on the indoor hard court suit his style very well. Shelton lost to Carlos Alcaraz at the Laver Cup yesterday, but he played a very good match. “It’s hard to accept what happened because I feel that I played at a very high level for most of the game. I had good chances in the first set, but any small mistake against Carlos when he’s at this level is fatal. I think he could have made some better tactical decisions on important points, but there is no margin for error before him when he’s like that,” he commented.
Ben Shelton & Frances Tiafoe, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
He continued: ”The best in the world have a very characteristic virtue, as it is to raise their level the better you play. He took advantage of my good rhythm and, as soon as he got rhythm, he felt comfortable. The amazing thing about Carlos is that he’s a brilliant player on the offensive level, but he also has a great defense and impressive leg mobility. Going up to the net is not a good idea either because he has tremendous clairvoyance for passing shots.” The young American talent has a very intriguing personality and fans greatly appreciate his style both on and off the tennis court. Thanks to him, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, American tennis has finally come back to see the light.