Andy Roddick makes his prediction for how ‘crazy athlete’ Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda will perform in 2025

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Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda are two of the most exciting American players on the ATP Tour.

Shelton continued to wow fans in 2024, playing some sensational tennis despite perhaps not picking up the results he would’ve hoped for.

A great example of this came at the US Open, where Shelton lost to Frances Tiafoe in the third round, after five sets of gruelling action.

He also reached two further ATP Tour finals, as he lost to Tiafoe in Houston, before Shelton fell to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Basel.

Shelton wasn’t the only American to impress in 2024, as Korda reached the semi finals of the Canadian Open.

Korda struggled with injury throughout the year, but peaked at 15th in the world, as he showed just how good he can be when fully fit.

Ahead of the 2025 season, one of America’s greatest-ever players has given his thoughts on what he thinks the pair may achieve in the new year.

Andy Roddick thinks Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda could both reach the ATP top ten in 2025

Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick gave his thoughts on Ben Shelton’s 2024 season.

“Ben Shelton, on the job training, finished lower this year than he did before but I think he’s a better player,” he said.

“I think getting stuck between hyper aggression and being able to rely on his wheels, crazy athlete.

“He is going to end this next year close to the top ten.”

Roddick then gave his thoughts on another top American ATP star, who he thinks could do just as well, providing he stays healthy.

“Sebastian Korda always looks like a top ten player on the eye test,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of health, he is such a clean ball striker, reminds me a lot of Tomas Berdych with the way he is able to produce.”

Having compared Korda to Berdych, Roddick went on to speak about another Czech star, Jiri Lehecka, who he thinks doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.

“Someone I want everyone to watch for,” he said.

“It would surprise me zero if he ended up in the top ten and he doesn’t get mentioned in the top ten enough.

“He was on a great run in Madrid this year.

“He can play huge, has a great serve, has a strong body.

“Got hurt in Madrid, detoured his season a lot but can beat really good players and has enough weapons.

“Jiri Lehecka, watch him for next year.”

Lehecka beat Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev in Madrid earlier this year, as he reached his first-ever Masters 1000 semi-final.

How close are Ben Shelton, Sebastian Korda, and Jiri Lehecka to reaching the ATP top ten?

Roddick seems to think that Shelton, Korda, and Lehecka, all stand a good chance of reaching the world’s top ten before too long, but how far away are they?

As the highest ranked of the trio, Shelton is sat just over 1,000 points away from the top ten, while Lehecka is a further 600 points behind.

Strong seasons could see all three reach the world’s top ten, but exceptional performances in Melbourne could see them make it before the end of the month.

• Ben Shelton – Would make top ten debut with a final appearance or a title at the Australian Open
• Sebastian Korda – Would make top ten debut with a title at the Australian Open
• Jiri Lehecka – Would make top ten debut with a title at the Australian Open

It is of course, highly unlikely, that any of the three players mentioned make it to the final in Melbourne, but that’s not to say that they don’t have real pedigree down under.

All three players made the last eight of the Australian Open just two years ago, and will be hoping to replicate that success this time around.

While top ten debuts could still be quite a while away for Shelton, Korda, and Lehecka, they will certainly be ones to watch out for at the Australian Open which begins on January 12.