'THIS IS THE CLOSEST I'VE FELT': THE RISE AND RISE OF BEN SHELTON

High energy and intensity were on full display at Roland-Garros yet again by Ben Shelton. (Getty/Dimitar Dilkoff)

American lefty Ben Shelton is this week making his top-10 debut in the ATP Rankings, following a semi-final run at the Stuttgart Open.

The 22-year-old big-hitting wunderkind jumps up from world No.12 at the expense of Australia’s Alex de Minaur and joins established countrymen Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul inside the top-10.

Unlike that pair, and Shelton's close mate Frances Tiafoe, who all appear destined to have outstanding careers but falling short of the absolute best, Shelton has the tools on and off the court to push the zenith.

Within four years of earning his first ATP point, Shelton's latest achievement provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on his ascension.

On-court progression

Built off the back of raw power and entertainment reflective of his boisterous personality, a mix of talent, confidence and consistency is aligning to deliver results.

His 2025 record of 19-12 is somewhat modest for a player of his burgeoning status, but there have been some clear breakthroughs.

A career-best Australian Open semi-final, which included a victory over now sixth-ranked Lorenzo Musetti and his best clay court season, highlighted by a fourth-round appearance at Roland-Garros, has underlined his improvement. It means Shelton has now progressed to the second week of each Slam after his fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon last year.

While one of his two career titles has come on the red dust, he had just eight clay court Tour-level wins entering 2025, the surface unsuited to his big serving aggression, favouring shorter points.

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Ahead of his run to the final at the ATP 500 event in Munich, he spoke publicly with the sort of confidence expected of a player ahead of a new phase of the season.

"I think I can definitely do damage on the surface," he told the ATP Tour site, words which sound prophetic with the benefit of hindsight.

"I'm feeling more and more comfortable every day. I get a lot of production out of my serves, and the ball bounces a lot higher, which I love."

The experience of his previous European ventures allowed him to better utilise his weapons this time around, but a big factor behind his improvement on the surface has been his decision-making, particularly on his preferred backhand side.

Under the tutelage of Dad, Bryan, as coach, Shelton has made some tweaks to his backhand grip, swing arc, and racquet head speed, which have given him more confidence.

"It was definitely a fix, something that we looked at in the offseason, the greatest backhands on Tour and in history, what that swing path looked like, how they hit it, the speed that they hit it at, how they were able to change line, go both directions with it and complement it with the slice," Shelton told the ATP Tour website in March.

He is now able to stay in points for longer and better control rallies, visibly more comfortable asserting control across multiple shots rather than seeking an all-or-nothing winner, which, of course, entertains – but also spikes the unforced error count.

That proved particularly important on clay, where making repeated balls and transferring pressure is needed to succeed and was a major factor behind his breakthrough.

"I think I'm moving better," the American said following Roland-Garros of his improvement on clay in 2025.

"Return of serve [is] another huge one, defending out of my backhand corner and being able to work from neutral to offence in the baseline exchange is huge for me."

Another underappreciated aspect of Shelton’s game is his second serve.

Possessing one of the most lethal first serves in the game, averaging more than nine aces per match, overshadows the reliability of his second serve.

He ranks seventh on the ATP tour for second serve points won, often fearlessly setting points up with a combination of force, spin and guile.

And for a player who thrives on crowds lifting when he has momentum and entertaining with his brashness, Shelton also has a knack for remaining in the fight, particularly in best-of-five matches, after losing the first set.

He has an unbelievable 7-9 record when losing the first set at Grand Slams, highlighting fitness, unwavering belief, and a sense of belonging on the biggest stage.

It also shouldn't be forgotten that he went down to the eventual champion in both Slams this year and held set points against both men.

"I actually play better when I'm a little bit more free and I'm enjoying my tennis and having fun and there's hot shots and highlights," he told the Tennis Channel last week.

"It gives me confidence, it helps me play better."

Shelton has always saved his best performances for the biggest stages, and while he hasn't yet broken through, each year has represented a tangible step up.

He burst onto the scene in 2023 with a jaw-dropping highlights reel, infectious energy and a phone-drop celebration.

It was his first time on Tour, having previously never left the United States, and he made a statement with a quarter-final run at the Australian Open and semi-final run at his home major, beating big names including Jannik Sinner and Tiafoe.

Characterising the maiden season was significant improvements in his fitness as he adapted to the demands of professional tennis on and off the court.

Last year, he better utilised his serve and matured.

His stats across the board improved as he consistently went deep into tournaments, leading to his breakthrough into the top-20, with four semi-final appearances or better, including the Houston crown, a reward for his increased capacity to play matches on his terms.

The next frontier for Shelton is conquering grass – currently, he has a win percentage of 50 per cent.

Coming through the increasingly fabled college tennis circuit, winning the 2022 NCAA singles title, proved an effective launchpad for Shelton's career, but somewhat limited his exposure on surfaces other than hard courts.

On the surface – pardon the pun – grass should deliver results for Shelton.

Serve-and-volleyers have flourished on the surface for decades, big servers cash in, and his backhand slice would be a nightmare for opponents to combat.

The challenge he'll face is maintaining his trademark power while shortening his typically flamboyant backswings to manage the skidded bounce of grass courts.

Off-court appeal

Beyond the technical breakthroughs that provide cause for optimism, other factors suggest Shelton will be a key protagonist of Generation Next.

At 22, Shelton is the second youngest member of the top-10, behind only Alcaraz.

He captured the attention of casual Australian tennis followers in the recent Australian summer by teeing off at TV broadcasters.

"I've been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters," Shelton said.

"I don't think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don't think that was just a single event.

"I've noticed it with different people, not just myself…

"Or today on the court, 'Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?' I mean, may be true, but I just don't think the comment is respectful from a guy I've never met before in my life."

Despite the bitter undertone to his response, his relationship with the media is mutually positive.

Perhaps Shelton was reacting to the subconscious tall poppy syndrome notoriously synonymous with Australian legacy media, given he uses the media as a vehicle to showcase, laugh and celebrate.

He leans further into new forms of media rather than traditional media, appearing on Netflix's Break Point documentary and being one of the main protagonists of sports content brand Overtime's recent venture into the tennis stratosphere.

That, combined with his penchant for highlights, boyish smile and aura-filled celebrations, makes him an ideal pin-up boy for a younger demographic drawn to the sport by personality and TikTok-length highlight reels.

Those eyeballs further proliferate his market value at the sponsorship table, having secured deals with Yonex and On.

Shelton chose On, the young Swiss company, to demonstrate its willingness to be distinctive and grow with the brand.  

While Emma Raducanu's seesawing plight on the female circuit highlights that on-court results trump all else when it comes to sponsorship, Shelton's big personality and savvy use of different media outlets to cut through open doors for further opportunities.

He is always expressive and honest – sometimes too much so, which his rant at the Australian Open media reflects –attracting media and bringing fans along for the ride.

While sponsorships and partnerships are not a new phenomenon in tennis, utilising one's profile across different mediums is something yet to be fully explored.

Breaking the male American drought

Not since Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows in 2003 has an American man saluted at a Grand Slam, a sorry and surprising return for a nation with as many consistent top-echelon tennis stars.

Fritz and Tiafoe have had their fair share of chances, semi-regularly reaching the second week of Slams in recent years, but neither has truly ever felt a likely contender.

Mardy Fish, James Blake, Jack Sock, John Isner and Sam Querrey are among the names that American tennis fans have pinned their hopes on in the interim.

Shelton appears to be this generation's American tennis protagonist.

The perception of Alcaraz and Sinner being head and shoulders above the chasing pack, perhaps except Novak Djokovic, was strengthened by their all-time French Open final.

But Shelton's upside is easily undervalued: he has come from further back than the pair to get to the top-10, having been not even the top-seed at Florida State University within 12 months of his maiden Slam quarter-final, and his trajectory since has continued at rapid pace.

"I think executing in the small moments... is a step that I need to win a match like that and taking the step to the next level," Shelton said when asked about his losses to Sinner and Alcaraz at Roland-Garros.

"For me, this is the closest I've felt - just talking about Alcaraz right now - the closest I've felt in a match against him and the most pressure that I thought that I've applied, the most comfortable that I've felt in the baseline exchanges, the best I've hit my open stance backhand when he's put pressure there...

"I feel like I am close to starting to win some matches like that, give guys a run for their money more often and have these deeper runs consistently."

Without the lurking shadow of the 'Big Three', and with a more holistic toolkit and better attitude than the recent Americans who preceded him, Shelton is the best-placed American to break the male drought.

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